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Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities celebrates military kids all April long

Published 6:00 am Monday, March 16, 2026

Free, family-friendly events at the Lakewood clinic honor the strength of military-connected children throughout the month

Every time a military family packs up and moves, the kids go with them. New school, new friends, new everything. It’s a resilience most people never have to develop and one that often goes unrecognized.

“Military children are some of the most resilient kids you’ll ever meet, but resilience doesn’t mean they don’t need support,” says Dr. Nichole Ayres, clinic director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities. 

Throughout April, the Lakewood clinic is hosting a series of free, family-friendly events designed to celebrate military-connected kids and create space for the kind of connection that can be hard to find when you’ve always been the new family in town.

Families can look forward to a movie night, a trivia night and an art-focused event where children create pieces highlighting their personal heroes. 

The month closes with a spring-themed planting event – families will decorate pots and plant seedlings together, a small but meaningful nod to new roots and fresh starts.

“Military children are some of the most resilient kids you’ll ever meet, but resilience doesn’t mean they don’t need support,” says Dr. Nichole Ayres.

“The average military child moves six to nine times during their school years, that’s a lot of goodbyes and a lot of starting over,” Ayres says. “Any time we can bring these families together and help them feel connected, that’s exactly what we’re here for.”

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities is part of the Blue Star Families outpost network. It serves active-duty service members, post-9/11 veterans – including National Guard and Reserve members – and their families throughout Washington state, providing high-quality mental health care services available both in-person and via telehealth.

April’s special events will take place Thursday and Friday afternoons at the Lakewood clinic. Beyond April, the clinic offers ongoing free programming including monthly coffee hours and quarterly couples workshops through Operation Connection. 

Throughout April, families can look forward to a movie night, a trivia night and two art-focused events.

For more information about the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic or to register for their programs, contact the clinic at 253-215-7070 by email at cohenclinic@valleycities.org or visit them online at cohen.valleycities.org

Follow them on Facebook for news and updates.

To learn more about Valley Cities and their services, call 253-833-7444 or visit valleycities.org. 

Help support Steven A. Cohen clinic: 

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic accepts one-time, monthly and legacy donations to help sustain and expand its services throughout the state of Washington.