Children in military families are often subject to stressful conditions stemming from difficult transitions. The various stressors increase children’s risk for emotional distress, substance abuse, and other risky behavior. Working with the NJ National Guard Family Program and its eight Family Assistance Centers based at armories around the state, NJPN provides programs to serve returning military personnel and their families through two evidence-based programs, Coping with Work and Family Stress and the Strengthening Families Program. Both programs are designed to enhance protective factors to support military members and their families in making responsible parenting and individual choices in regards to drug and alcohol use.

FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: The Military Family Nights (MFN) program provides a family dinner at each session, family fun activities, and skill-building sessions as well as gifts and incentives for participating. Session topics focus on every member of the family:

Parents/Caregivers
-Strategies to encourage good behavior
-Protecting against substance abuse

Youth
-Dealing with stress
-Handling peer pressure

Family
-Building family communication
-Understanding family values

FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL: The Achieving Personal Balance Program focuses on increasing the use of healthy coping skills by returning military veterans. Two groups are open to men 18-25 years old or all women serving or having served in the military. Participants develop skills which help create a healthy balance in their lives.

For more information or to find the statewide program location nearest to you, please call Bruce at 732-367-0611 ext.14 or email him at bruce@njpn.org.