Talk , Listen , Connect Talk , Listen , Connect is a 2006 " Sesame Street " educational outreach initiative designed to support military families dealing with , , and . The specials were produced by Sesame Workshop in partnership with Wal - Mart Stores , and have been made available to schools and parenting groups for no charge . The special videos are also available for download by Sesame Workshop and Akamai Technologies at sesameworkshop . org , and on a DVD made available in a free kit from Military OneSource . From 2006 to October 2008 , 800 , 000 kits were distributed ; Sesame Workshop recently received money from the Department of Defense to create another 300 , 000 kits . The project includes " Sesame Street Family Connections " , a social networking service for military families . Resource videos . The first resource video in the series , released in 2006 , featured Elmo , who faced a difficult transition when his father , Louie , is away . While Louie is away , Elmo ' s mom consoles her son , and lets him know that it ' s okay to feel nervous about seeing his father again after their time apart . They pass the time while they ' re waiting by keeping a daily routine . The second resource video in the series , released in 2008 , featured Elmo , who faced a difficult transition when his father , Louie , returns from being away . The third resource video in the series , released in 2008 , featured Rosita , who faced a difficult transition when her father , Ricardo , returns home in a wheelchair . Television specials . " When Parents Are Deployed " . Cuba Gooding , Jr . hosted a television special entitled " When Parents Are Deployed " in 2006 . The special , part of the " Talk Listen Connect " initiative , featured interviews with military families along with inserting footage from the original " Talk , Listen , Connect " production dealing with parental deployment . The special was targeted at educating the general public and adults about the issues and effects of deployment on children , rather than supporting the affected families ( as that was focused on in the original resource video and support materials ) . It re - aired on PBS in April 2009 . " Coming Home : Military Families Cope With Change " . Queen Latifah and John Mayer hosted a special , with Elmo and Rosita , that originally aired on April 1 , 2009 in conjunction with the " Month of the Military Child " . " When Families Grieve " . Aired April 14 , 2010 , Katie Couric presented personal stories about families coping with the death of a parent , as well as strategies that have helped these families move forward . . It was nominated for an Emmy Award . The special features Elmo ' s family dealing with the death of Uncle Jack . " Sesame Street Experience for Military Families " . A free touring show , produced by the VEE Corporation and the USO launched in July 2008 . Featuring appearances by characters , the show tours 43 military installations around the country . Parents who attend a show with their children will receive giveaways and outreach materials . Cast included Elizabeth Stout , Laura Percy , and Jessica Miller . " Sesame Street " productions occasionally appear at military based separate from the program , including the Universal Studios Japan characters for the United States Forces Japan in Tokyo .