Canadian Ohana Newsletter
April 2018
Monica Warner
Military Family Services Coordinator - Hawaii
Work Cell: 808-688-4413
mfs.hawaii@cfmws.com
April is the Month of the Military Child
Save the Date - Good bye Event
Join MFS in Saying Good Bye to our Departing Families
When: June 24, 2018
Where: TBD
Time: Afternoon
Health and Wellness
Postpartum Depression
Many mothers, both first-time and veteran moms, feel down in the first days or weeks after childbirth. Often called the “baby blues,” these feelings are normal and generally go away after a short time.

But when a mother has intense and ongoing feelings of sadness, anxiety or hopelessness—feelings that interfere with her caring for herself or her baby—she may have postpartum depression (PPD).

PPD isn’t rare, but it is treatable. Between 11% and 20% of U.S. mothers experience it, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To keep reading, click here .
Education and Employment
Join MFS in attending the Workforce Job Fair

When: May 16, 2018
Where: NEAL BLAISDELL CENTER (777 Ward Ave)
Time: 10:00 am
Cost: $1 (with Military ID)
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Support our Troops Scholarship

Discover the scholarship opportunities available for you and your family.

We are now accepting applications for the 2018 scholarship program, click here for more information.
EAD Renewal information

For those who will need to renew their EAD this year, here is some helpful information:
2018 Virtual Military Spouse Symposium
(21-24 May 2018)

Register here for the 2018 Virtual Military Spouse Symposium. Make employer connections, get tips to advance your career and more during this four-day virtual event, designed specifically for military spouses. #MilSpouseLive
Departing This Year?
Your MFS Coordinator can connect you to personalized support and information at your receiving MFRC. Just email mfs.hawaii@cfmws.com or go to www.cafconnection.ca to find your new location and great resources!
Medical Records

When requesting your Medical Records at Tripler or one of the MTF clinics, request a printed copy and not a CD. The CD you receive will be encrypted and not be readable at your Canadian doctor's office.
Returning to Canada can be a stressful time with lots of questions. MFS has created a FAQ sheet with the most common question.
Families with Children
Sesame Street for Military Families is a great resource with lots of valuable information and activities. To check it out, click here.
Upcoming Community Programs and Events
Volunteer Appreciation Event - Sunset Sail
When: Saturday April 21, 2018
Where: Maita'i Catamaran
2255 Kalakaua Ave Ste 3504, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 (Boarding is on the beach between the Halekulani Hotel & Sheraton Waikiki)
Time: 5:00-7:30 pm
Cost: See formal invitation

Join MFS Hawaii in thanking our wonderful volunteers.

Confirmation e-mails have been sent to registered participants
Military Child Month Event -Hawaiian Rail Society Ice Cream Ride
When: Saturday April 28, 2018
Where: 91-1001 Renton Rd.
Time: 2:30 pm

Celebrate Month of the Military Child by going on a train ride with the Hawaiian Railway Society.

Co-pay: $10/adult; Children and infants are FREE

Please note that this event is open to families with children only.
Coffee Morning
When: Tuesday May 1, 2018
Where: Webber Residence (address will be in FB event or contact me )
Time: 10:00 am

Come out for a coffee, snacks and some conversation. Children are welcome.
Garden Meditation at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
When: Sunday May 6, 2018
Where: Ho'omaluhia Garden
Time: 9:00 am
Cost: Free

Join MFS for a meditation session at the Ho'omaluhia Gardens in Kaneohe.

Please RSVP by 1 May 2018 on FB or via e-mail if you will be attending so that I can register us.
Military Spouse Appreciation Create a Canvas
When: Saturday May 19, 2018
Where: Leblanc Residence (address will be provided in FB event or contact me )
Time: 2:00 pm
Co-pay: $15/person

Celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Month by joining in a fun afternoon. An art instructors will guide us step-by-step to recreate the featured painting for our session. Get creative by putting on your own touches: at the end of the session, you will be surprised and impressed at your masterpiece to bring home.

Please RSVP by 12 May 2018.
MFSUS Virtual Programs Winter 2018
Coming Soon

Eating Habits in Young Children: 
How to get my child to eat something other than pasta!
Wednesday April 4, 11 and 18, 2018
Based on the strategies and researched practice of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), these sessions go beyond just a text book or parenting help book. We will not only educate you about ABA, but also take specific examples from your child’s eating habits, and put strategies into practice to achieve positive concrete results. We will be observing current eating habits, putting strategies into place, observing the change in these eating habits, and modifying strategies to ensure success. The theories, the strategies and the data are tailored to fit you, your child, and your life. This is a 3-part series.

Missed a Program You Were Interested In?
Happenings on JBPPH
Military and Family Support Center
JBPHH MFSC offers many free classes for personal and professional development, employment and for families.

If you take a class, let me know how it was.
Great Life Hawaii
At MFSUS, we get it ...
Your MFS team listens and acts on what we hear! 
We are military families too, and we get it.
 
We heard of many people having difficulties with the Medical System, so we have helped facilitate regular online briefings from the CDLS(W) Medical Staff.

We heard families had difficulty understanding what they needed to know for their OUTCAN posting, so we made a Family Guide .

We heard our website wasn't meeting your needs, so we made cafconnection.ca/unitedstates .

We heard you wanted more connection, so we developed our Facebook Page , Twitter Feed , and numerous Online Meetings, Events, and Recordings .

We heard about your emotional and mental health struggles, so we held a Social Worker-Led Program and created a Mental Health Campaign , filled with important resources.
 
That's just to name a few of the initiatives MFS has been working on to address your challenges and needs. So use your voice to help impact the lives of current and future CAF families posted to a U.S. OUTCAN. Give us your feedback. We listen!

Thank you to our families for speaking out. 

Michelle S. - MFSC D.C. Capital Region, MFSUS
Know Where You Can Reach out for Help
The FIL offers confidential, personal and bilingual assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.