ITA's Therapy Programs for Military Families Receive National Attention

The Music Institute of Chicago's Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) participated in a presentation to Dr. Jill Biden, joined by Illinois Army National Guard soldiers and their families, June 16, 2011.  The Second Lady was in Chicago as part of Joining Forces, a national initiative she is spearheading with First Lady Michelle Obama to mobilize all sectors of society to give service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. Dr. Biden and Ms. Obama have dedicated themselves to shining a light on military families' strength and courage as well as the challenges they face and have traveled both in the US and abroad to speak with soldiers and their families and raise awareness about the special sacrifices these Americans make.

How Operation Oak Tree Assists Military Families

Through Operation Oak Tree, ITA offers services for military families throughout the cycle of deployment. 

Mission:

• to empower individual expression to foster personal growth

• deepen interpersonal roots between and among family members

• strengthen coping strategies so that families can weather challenges

inherent in each season of the cycle

• make it easier for families to branch out to their communities for support

During the June presentation, registered Drama Therapist Katherine Dillingham, coordinator of ITA's Operation Oak Tree programs and services for military families, presented information about ITA's "Deep Roots, New Leaves" Reintegration Program, which aims to create a smooth transition between deployment and homecoming both for soldiers and their family members.

"We know it can be hard for military families to get back to normal after a deployment," said Dillingham.  "By using the creative arts, a language children are comfortable with, we're giving these kids the tools to express their feelings, the skills to engage their parents in a healthy dialogue, and the screening to determine if they need more help."

Operation Oak Tree Programs & Services:

Get Ready, Get Set:  Pre-Mobilization Programming for Military Families
Growing Strong, Branching Out:  Programming for Families of a Deployed Service Member
Deep Roots, New Leaves:  Reintegration Programming for Miltary Families
Looking Back, Reaching Forward:  Programming for Families of Fallen Military Service Personnel

For More Information Contact:

Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA)
Katherine Dillingham, MA, RDT
Operation Oak Tree Coordinator
847.425.9708, ext. 522