TRICARE: Celebrating Our Military Kids Published April 27, 2017 By TRICARE Staff TRICARE Although April is the Month of the Military Child, recognizing our military’s youngest heroes is a year-round effort. Nearly two million U.S. military children serve our country as part of service members’ families. For these children, TRICARE offers benefits for their well-being, such as well-child care and mental health services. In 2016, a study by the National Institutes of Health found a link between parents who deploy and anxiety in children. They move often and adjust to new schools, friends and homes. They cope when parents deploy. Sometimes they deal with parental injury or even death. Adults can do a lot to help kids deal with the stress that may come with being a military kid. Begin by asking your kids what they like and dislike about being a military kid. Talking about their feelings can help them cope with stress. Being sensitive to the added anxiety they feel during moves and deployments will also help. Additional support is available through TRICARE, other Defense Department of Defense (DoD) programs and DoD partners. TRICARE covers medically or psychologically necessary counseling. It also covers well-child visits and school enrollment physicals. These visits give you a chance to speak with a doctor about physical, emotional or behavioral concerns you may have about your child. Visit the TRICARE website for more information about well-child care benefits as well as emergency and non-emergency mental health care. Service members and their families can also turn to Military OneSource. Military OneSource is a hub for the military community, helping connect families with help. One such service is finding counseling services with participating counselors and therapists. Sessions can be in person, by phone or even over video. Military kids serve too, and they deserve the best support and care possible. Learn more about TRICARE supports our military’s youngest heroes.