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In the US, more than three million children live in homes with servicemembers and veterans who rely on caregiver support. In HOMEFRONT, three children of veteran families cope with the emotional impact of having a wounded parent, navigate the unique challenges of visible and invisible injuries sustained during military service, and together journey toward collective healing.

Impact

In the US, more than three million children live in homes with service members and veterans who rely on caregiver support. Gabby, Terry, and Luther all have parents who were injured while serving, and each family has found a way to heal the wounds of war. Homefront shows how Gabby (9), a fierce animal lover with a stock of chickens, rabbits, bees, and dogs, loves her family and faces her fears about her Dad’s traumatic brain injury and PTSD via equine therapy. Terry (10), an enthusiastic boy and his parents, Taniki and Brandon, share their experiences and mental health struggles as they work to heal and help each other cope with depression and PTSD through honest conversation and embracing joy. Luther (9) is a charismatic boy who wants to be “like my dad when I grow up.” His father, Joe, a Navy veteran who lost his leg in an IED explosion, struggles through chronic pain to put family first.

Watch Gabbi introduce Dr. Jill Biden at the White House

Gabby Rodriguez, age 9 and one of the stars of Homefront, spoke at the White House about her experience as a military caregiver. She was part of an event with the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the Hidden Helpers Coalition, and military families celebrating military and veteran caregiver children and youth. The eventmarked the first step in supporting military children with the announcement of nearly 40 public and private sector commitments for new and expanded resources, programs, and financial pledges in support of military-connected caregiver children and youth.
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Watch the panel discussions we held with experts on the needs of military children

• Homefront director Kristi Jacobson with  Headstrong CEO Jim McDonough, Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet, and Travis Manion Foundation President Ryan Manion discuss  the film and the mental well-being of veterans and their families. The conversation was moderated by Former Acting Secretary of the Army Honorable Patrick J. Murphy.  Watch here
• Dr. Charles Marmar of NYU Langone moderated a discussion with Dr. Carl Castro of USC School of Social Work’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, Dr. Tracy Neal-Walden of Chief Clinical Officer of the Cohen Veterans Network, Dr. Amanda Spray Director of the Steven A Cohen Military Families Clinic at NYU Langone, and Dr. Amy Williams Chief Clinical Officer of Headstrong on both the resilience of military children and families and their unique mental health needs that often are not met. Watch here

Download the free companion discussion guide

Shine Global is also pleased to offer this free companion discussion guide for viewers to download.

*You can download free curricula for Shine Global’s other films here.

Our ultimate goal is to support the physical, social, and emotional health of military families and their children.

We will use HOMEFRONT to:

• Raise awareness about the issues military families face every day, especially mental health issues
• Demonstrate the need to better understand the children of veterans and their unique challenges
• Inspire people, communities, and government leaders to support military families, especially their children

See more and further resources here

Credits

A Max Original
A SESAME WORKSHOP PRODUCTION
in association with shine global

Directed by
Kristi Jacobson

Produced by
Alexandra Blaney
Netsanet Negussie

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS 
Susan MacLaury
Albie Hecht

EDITED BY
Faisal Azam

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Stephen Bailey

ORIGINAL MUSIC BY
Angélica Negrón

FOR SESAME WORKSHOP
PRODUCED BY
Beth Miranda Botshon
PRODUCER
Lisa Diamond
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Melissa Dino
Jodi Nussbaum