AMES, Iowa -- Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) will host a Capitol Hill event recognizing Operation: Military Kids (OMK) at 1:30 p.m., April 6, 2005, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

A national collaborative effort, OMK supports children and families of deployed National Guard and Reserve soldiers and operates teams in 20 states that have high deployment rates. The Iowa team, headed by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension 4-H Youth Development personnel, works with the Army Child and Youth Services, National 4-H Headquarters/USDA and other youth serving organizations, schools, veterans groups, community agencies and businesses.

Chris Gleason, Iowa 4-H military liaison, and Michael Cooley, Iowa 4-H student liaison, will present outcomes of the 20-state effort at the Capitol Hill event. OMK works to form community support networks for military youth before, during and after deployment of their family members.

"We work to involve these 'suddenly military' youth in peer support groups and provide several outreach services that can reduce the tension on these young people and their families," Gleason said. "Everyone needs to understand the impact that deployment of these 'citizen soldiers' makes on their families."

OMK originally rolled out in 2004 in five states, including Iowa, with Gleason and Cooley also working to bring the program to the forefront of National 4-H. As deployments progressed, 15 other states joined OMK and more may be added as the War on Terror continues.

Other national partner organizations in OMK include Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Military Child Education Coalition and the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.