The Family Development concentration of eXtension's Military Families Learning Community invites you to participate in an important 60-minute web conference focused on working with military families to improve Social Support Systems.

Mark your calendars and save the date!  (No registration is needed.)

Helping Military Families Create Systems of Social Support
Dennis K. Orthner, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Social Work
Associate Director, Jordan Institute for Families

January 25, 2012
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (EST)

Dennis Orthner has extensive experience consulting with military policymakers, researchers, and practitioners across a range of mental health and social service issues. In November 2011, Dr. Orthner received the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) President's Award.

Dr. Orthner plays a key role in the Essential Life Skills for Military Families, a collaborative effort between East Carolina University, NC State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• A 60-minute interactive web conference on helping military families develop/strengthen social support systems
• Learn about primary research related to family strengths and specific strategies to help military families promote family well-being
• Share your experiences and ideas through this interactive session
• For more information about the Essential Life Skills for Military Families, see: http://www.militaryfamilylifeskills.org/

No registration is needed.  To attend link to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/milfam  a few minutes before the start time, 11:00 a.m. (EST)

To get the most out of the web conference, these readings are suggested prior to the interactive web conference:

Orthner, D., & Rose, R. (2009). "Work separation demands and spouse psychological well-being." Family Relations, 58, 392-403.
Huebner, A., Mancini, J., Bowen, G., & Orthner, D. (2009). "Shadowed by war:  Building community capacity to support military families." Family Relations, 58, 216-228.