| Like many children in families with one or both parents | | | | Military Family Association, the Partnership for a Drug |
| serving in the Armed Forces, 16 year-old Robyn | | | | Free America, and the National Association of School |
| Lutzkanin has moved quite frequently throughout her | | | | Nurses. |
| lifetime. | | | | “The only way to solve a problem is to talk about |
| As much as she enjoys seeing new places, meeting | | | | it,” says Robyn. “If you let it sit there in the |
| new people, and having new life experiences, she | | | | back of your mind, it’s going to start festering in |
| admits that she doesn’t look forward to being the | | | | your brain … you’ve just got to let it out.” She |
| new kid in town and having to make new friends after | | | | said that it’s ideal to have parents to talk to since |
| relocating. “Moving is a really big stress, especially | | | | they are sharing the transition. “Parents can talk |
| on teenagers,” she explains. You see all of these | | | | to you about anything. You can trust them.” |
| kids when you go to a new school, and you don’t | | | | The web site also has information for parents on how |
| know them.” | | | | to talk about substance abuse with their kids. In fact, |
| To help military families cope with various changes and | | | | a Free Talk Kit for Parents of Military Families is |
| stresses they inevitably experience due to the nature | | | | currently available through the site. Designed |
| of the job, a new web site has been created that | | | | specifically for parents of “tweens” and teens, it |
| offers, among other tools, a guide for parents on how | | | | includes ideas on how to start the conversation about |
| to talk to their children during times of transition, such | | | | drugs and alcohol, scripts to assist you in finding the |
| as a move or the deployment of a loved one. | | | | right words to use, and tips for answering the tough |
| On September 30, 2009, Robyn stood before a crowd | | | | questions. |
| at the U.S. Capital to announce that the web site, has | | | | There is also information on the web site about how |
| been successfully launched. Truly an invaluable | | | | to educate members of the civilian sector, such as |
| resource for military families, the site was a joint effort | | | | school teachers, who may not be accustomed to |
| between three national associations - the National | | | | handling problems unique to military families. |