Evaluation of a Family-Centered Prevention Intervention for Military Children and Families Facing Wartime Deployments

Evidence-based programs are needed to help military families cope with the stress of deployment. Parent, child, and overall family well-being was compared before and after the Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS) program to examine its effect on resilience and psychological health. Family satisfaction with the FOCUS program was high, and the program was associated with improved parent, child, and family health and well-being (e.g., positive coping skills, decreased distress) among Marine Corp and Navy families experiencing combat- and deployment-related stress.