Military Child Education Coalition leads meetings

Some New Hanover County school employees had a little military training today.

Nurses, guidance counselors, and social workers from area schools attended the first of two training sessions on National Guard families.

The meetings are run by the Military Child Education Coalition to help school personnel understand the needs of kids whose family members are in the National Guard.

Sally Patterson, an MCEC trainer, said, “It’s important that the professionals that work with these children in an education environment understand the issues that these children are facing and learn how they can support them.”

Patterson said National Guard children differ from other military children because they are used to having their parents around when they are called to serve.

The program will help the schools prepare for added stress the children might experience while their parents are away.