About Living in the New Normal

About LINN

More than two million military-connected children have been affected by deployments, separations, death, injury, or illness of a parent or sibling serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring freedom through 2008.  For these children their “new normal” is living in a greatly changed environment.

Concerns about military children dealing with the impact of these profound challenges prompted the Military Child Education Coalition to develop the Living In the New Normal: Supporting Children Through Trauma and Loss (LINN) initiative focused on Preparing Children To Thrive In Good and Challenging Times.   This comprehensive, three part system was created through careful research and collaboration with experts in the fields of trauma and grief, resilience, health and well-being, child development, and education.

The Military Child Education Coalition’s Living In the New Normal encourages families to ensure their children have tools to bounce back from life’s storms, fosters homefront efforts to support military children through community engagement, and provides educators and other concerned adults with valuable information and resources to help them support children during challenging times of adversity, separation, trauma, and loss.

Guiding Principles of Living in the New Normal

  • Recognize and encourage the courage of children.
  • Acknowledge the positive attributes of military children.
  • Promote an environment of resilience.
  • Understand that children grieve.
  • Non-victimization of grievers.
  • Respect the cultural traditions, belief systems, and privacy of each child.

Download and Print the MCEC’s Living In the New Normal Abstract PDF icon.

Drawing of a military famiy with flag

“Through the Military Child Education Coalition, more boys and girls are getting the support and services they need. Your work is invaluable to the men and women of our military and to their sons and daughters. On behalf of all Americans, I thank you for your commitment to the health and happiness of America’s military children.”

- Laura Bush, 2004