Special training for military parents

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Saphfire Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Desert Lightning Team families attended the Specialized Training of Military Parents held at the Mirage Club March 14-15.

The training was provided to educate parents on the services, both military and civilian, provided for children with disabilities.

"Basically the purpose of the training is to empower military parents to be the best advocate they can for their children," said Tiffany Hornbeek, 355th Force Support Squadron Exceptional Family Members Program coordinator.

The two-day training covered a variety of topics, from special education laws to enhanced health care options.

"A lot of people don't realize the importance of understanding the processes that go into getting these services, so they leave it up to the teachers or the school," Hornbeek said. "But really a parent is their child's best ally."

Instructors at the event gave a personal touch to the lessons, having been military parents with special needs children themselves.

"I started the program back in 1985, because of my own children," said Heather Hebdon, STOMP program director and retired U.S. Army spouse. "When you have to pick up and move from place to place, you are the only constant in your child's life. Every system will tell you different things, so it's important that parents educate themselves and know their rights and the resources available to them."

According to their mission statement, STOMP is a parent-directed program existing to empower military parents with knowledge, skills and resources to create a collaborative environment for family and professional partnerships without regard to graphic location.

"Here at D-M we have a large EFMP population," Hornbeek said. "There are over 460 families enrolled in the program on this base, and statistics show that one of out every 10 military children has a special need. So, the demand is there for informative programs like STOMP."