MCEC Podcast

If you're listening to this and wondering whether what's happening at home is "bad enough" to talk about, this episode is for you. If you're a friend, a teacher, or a neighbor who has noticed something and doesn't know what to say, it's for you too. Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee joins us for a conversation about domestic abuse and domestic violence in military families: what it looks like, why reaching out feels so hard, and what happens when you finally do. There is no shame in asking for help. There's only courage, and people ready to meet you there, as many times as it takes. Today's episode goes beyond the psychology and into the practical: how do you speak up? And what will happen next? SHOW NOTES This podcast is made possible through generous funding by the USAA Foundation. Mixed and mastered by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas, USA. Biography for Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee: Dr. Herrera-Yee’s background in research is extensive and her knowledge of military-connected communities is even deeper. Her expertise spans from Military Suicide Prevention/Postvention and Policy SME, Researcher, Data Scientist, Speaker, Writer and Founder to a personal lens of being a military spouse. Her approach is refreshing: she speaks without judgment and with genuine empathetic clarity. Her focus on the research and actionable steps enable movement beyond the typical conversation around domestic abuse. It is her passion “to help people” especially after being witness to the needs in her own military-connected life. Her career continues to focus on advocacy and work on suicide prevention, mental health awareness and fighting stigma, and supporting our military families and communities. RESOURCES: National Domestic Violence Hotline 888-779-SAFE (888-799-7233) The Military Family Advocacy Program Department of War Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator [how to find your nearest Family Advocacy Program] The Military Family Advocacy Program, Department of War DODi 6400.06 [Department of Defense Instruction 6400.06] Military OneSource, Department of War, Family Advocacy Program War Department Policies Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Department of War

If your kitchen table has ever turned into a homework war zone at 9 p.m., this episode is for you. We're talking about Tutor.com, the resource that lets military-connected kids get one-on-one help for free, so you can finally retire from pretending you remember how to factor polynomials. Tutor.com covers more than 250 education topics, helps students build study habits that actually stick, and will review essays before they're turned in (no more "I think it's good?" at midnight). Through its connection to The Princeton Review, it also offers test prep that can take some of the dread out of the big exams. And it isn't just for older kids, either, because Tutor.com helps our youngest learners grow into strong, confident readers. Whether your student is sounding out their first chapter book or staring down the SAT or even if they are building a resume, tune in to hear how this resource can bring a little more peace to your evenings and a lot more confidence to your kids. Show Notes: This show is provided through generous funding by the USAA Foundation. Mixed and mastered by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas, USA. RESOURCES:Tutor.com Tutor.com for Military and Military Families Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Military Child Education Coalition Biography for Guest Maureen Haney: Maureen Haney is a Senior Program Manager for Tutor.com Military and Government Programs. She has been with Tutor.com for over 13 years and is part of the team that focuses on Tutor.com/military outreach and customer service for military-connected families. She is a military brat from birth, born on Guam and attended 9 different schools in many locations before proudly graduating from a DOD high school in the United Kingdom. She is now an Air Force Spouse and she and her husband, Patrick, are currently stationed in San Antonio, TX. Maureen holds degrees in Journalism & Mass Communication as well as Technical & Professional Writing from the University of New Mexico. She started her career in Public Affairs for state government agencies in New Mexico and Virginia but has found her passion lies in working with military families like her own. Sharing the no-cost Tutor.com/military resource with families around the world feels like something she was born to do.

Join us and sit down with the Objective Zero Foundation, a nonprofit built on a simple idea: veteran and military suicide can be prevented through connection and listening. Objective Zero operates a free, anonymous mobile app that connects service members, veterans, and their families to peer support and mental health resources, working from the belief that suicide can be prevented through the simple act of listening. We talk about how the organization trains volunteer peer supporters, called Pathfinders, who provide emotional support and help reduce loneliness and stigma for those struggling, and what military-connected families can do to recognize when someone needs to be heard. It's a conversation about presence, community, and how something as small as a conversation can make a real difference. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text. Resources: https://www.objectivezero.org/ https://militarychild.org https://afsp.org/ https://www.dspo.mil// https://www.dspo.mil/Home/Tools/Resource-Library/spm/SP-Prevention-Outreach-Toolkit/ https://cssrs.columbia.edu/the-columbia-scale-c-ssrs/about-the-scale/ https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4448597/department-of-war-releases-its-annual-report-on-suicide-in-the-military-for-cal/ Glori Fernandez Contact Information: [email protected] Glori Fernandez Biography: Glori is a grown-up military-connected child herself. She now represents the other side of military-connected families as a spouse and mom to four military-connected children and works for our service members as Director of Objective Zero Foundation, providing hands-on support to over 3000 volunteers and representatives -- internationally and 24/7. Her heart is truly in this work because she lives it. When she's not saving lives, running an organization, and building out new communities through technology, you can find her in the garden where she loves working in the yard to protect her peace of mind. Mixed & Mastered by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas, USA. Made possible through generous funding by the USAA Foundation. Related MCEC Podcast Episodes: #GotMySix, published 9.2.25 Mental Health Care and Military Families, published 9.10.24 Not All Heroes Wear Capes, published 12.6.22

"It is a community to be seen and to be heard." Military-connected children make up a community of friends, advocates, caregivers, and leaders, and today we sit down with Seylah Stephens to hear what that looks like in her own life. Her honest, encouraging words are a reminder that no one has to go it alone, and that being recognized as you are may be one of the greatest gifts there is. Seylah shares her story of finding her place, first within her family, and then alongside other young people who understood her experience, and how that sense of belonging became the foundation for her own leadership. SHOW NOTES Biography for Seylah Stephens: Seylah tells us: "I am currently studying clinical psychology at University of California, San Diego. In my free time, I really enjoy being out in nature and practicing self care! Connecting with others is a huge part of my life, and hanging with my loved ones such as my family and friends keeps me grounded and motivated." Resources: Military Child Education Coalition Website David Nguyễn, Mr. International Student Self-Efficacy of Leadership: A Within-Group Analysis. 2015. Dugan, J. P., Garland, J. L., Jacoby, B., & Gasiorski, A. (2008). Understanding Commuter Student Self-Efficacy for Leadership: A Within-Group Analysis. NASPA Journal, 45(2), 282–310. https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-6605.1951 Oberle E. Social-emotional competence and early adolescents' peer acceptance in school: Examining the role of afternoon cortisol. PLoS One. 2018 Feb 20;13(2):e0192639. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192639. PMID: 29462163; PMCID: PMC5819800. Parkhill, C.L. Deans, L.A. Chapin. Pre-leadership processes in leadership training for adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 88, 2018, Pages 375-379. Shah EN, Szwedo DE and Allen JP (2024) Adolescent close friendships, self-perceived social acceptance, and peer-rated likeability as predictors of wellbeing in young adulthood. Front. Dev. Psychol. 2:1435727. doi: 10.3389/fdpys.2024.1435727 This episode is provided by generous funding from the USAA Foundation. Mixed and mastered by Concentus, Media, Inc., Temple, Texas, USA. Related MCEC Podcast Episodes: The Other Kind of Service - Caregiving Youth published 9.2.26 Military Kids as Caregivers published 4.29.25 S2S: Students Supporting Students published 5.25.25

Before school. After school. In the middle of the night when something goes wrong. Liz, Kasen, and Audrey have all learned to carry weight most of their peers never have to think about. They show up and care for a family member who needs them, again and again, in ways that rarely get noticed and even more rarely get thanked. They're not alone: an estimated 3.4-5.4 million youth provide essential caregiving in the U.S., and yet there's no national system in place at schools, hospitals, or doctor's offices to even recognize a child as a caregiver. In this episode, these three incredible young people open up about what that invisible work actually looks like day to day: the responsibility that arrives too early, the exhaustion that goes unspoken, and just how rare it was to feel truly understood — until they found other kids living the same reality. They talk about what changed when they found each other at MCEC, and what it means to finally feel seen and heard by people who simply get it. Julie Coffey, who helps lead the Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program, joins the conversation to share how the program gives these young caregivers something they didn't know they were missing — a peer community built around the kind of service no one sees, but everyone needs. SHOW NOTES Guests: Liz. Kasen. Audrey. Julie Coffey: our beloved Student Well-Being Manager at MCEC. Julie manages the Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program, as well as many of our other student initiatives, like Student-2-Student (s2s) and the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Program. As a former educator, counselor, and a military-connected Caregiving Youth herself, Julie dedicates herself to helping military-connected students recognize their place of belonging in this world. Resources: https://militarychild.org Information about the Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program: https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/caregiving-youth-student-leadership-program/ Citations: Armstrong-Carter E, Siskowski C, Cornish NR, Olson E. Adolescents' caregiving for family: Associations with mental health and academic performance. J Res Adolesc. 2025 Sep;35(3):e70045. doi: 10.1111/jora.70045. PMID: 40586181; PMCID: PMC12221208. Miller KEM, Hart JL, Useche Rosania M, Coe NB. Youth Caregivers of Adults in the United States: Prevalence and the Association Between Caregiving and Education. Demography. 2024 Jun 1;61(3):829-847. doi: 10.1215/00703370-11383976. PMID: 38785364; PMCID: PMC11539003. Mixed and mastered by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas, USA. This episode is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation. Related MCEC Podcast Episodes: Military Kids as Caregivers published 4.29.25 S2S: Students Supporting Students published 5.25.25 S2S: Helping Students Succeed published 8.20.24