Over half a million children under the age of five are waiting for their active duty, Guard or Reserve mother or father to come home — the most since World War II. The producers of Sesame Street have responded with a program geared to address the challenges military families face with deployment.

This primetime special, hosted by Cuba Gooding Jr., captures the extraordinary courage and touching vulnerability of both parents and children.

“When Parents are Deployed” builds upon Sesame Workshop’s recent educational outreach program produced in partnership with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. titled, Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment. The bilingual (English and Spanish) DVD and print package is helping military families and their young children cope with feelings, challenges, and concerns experienced during the various phases of deployment: pre-deployment, deployment and homecoming.

This special program will air soon. To learn more visit www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc

This type of program provides real value to our communities and can certainly tie in to the important ways we support military members and their families though our AFES program.”