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HOW DO FAMILIES KEEP UP? HOW COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKS IN THE MILITARY “Just as our troops embody the courage and character that make America’s military the finest in the world, their family members embody the resilience and generosity that make our communities strong. They serve with heroism in their homes and neighborhoods while they are without the comfort of having loved ones nearby.”- President Barack Obama, 1 Nov 2011 MILITARY FAMILIES FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES SEPARATIONS FROM THOSE THEY LOVE FREQUENT MOVES SPOUSES AND CHILDREN SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS DEPLOYMENT & THE STRESS OF WAR Financial stress Leaving friends and families THIS CAN RESULT IN: Feelings of isolation and loneliness Concern about finding new childcare Interruption of spouse’s career Children change schools often Need to find new housing THE PRESSURES OF WAR Post Traumatic Stress disorder GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR Traumatic Brain Injury Severe Anxiety Disorder Wounded Warriors Isolation KIA FAMILIES NEED SUPPORT From military programs From Department of Defense programs From community programs Together we can make a difference in the lives of military families, some of whom have paid the ultimate price to protect our freedom! MILITARY SPOUSES • Population 95% of 1.2 million spouses are women 750,000 active duty military spouses – over half are under 31 years old 400,000 Guard/Reserve spouses – over half are over 35 years old • Employment 85% want or need to work* 26% unemployment rate – 1 in 4 are unemployed and actively seeking work** • Education 84% have some college 25% have a bachelor’s degree 10% have an advanced degree • Earnings Military wives earn 25% less than their civilian counterparts** Military families relocate 14% more frequently than civilian families*** Source: * Military Family Life Study, DMDC, Dec. 2010, ** Segal, UMUC, Nov. 2010, *** Current Population Survey, 2007-2009 Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) 6 SPOUSES INTERRUPT THEIR CAREERS EACH TIME THEY MOVE Each branch of service has a Career Resource Center to help spouses FMEAP – Family Member Employment Assistance Program Military OneSource – online resources in their career center SECO Spouse Education Career Opportunities MYCAA – Military Spouse Career Advancement Account MSEP – Military Spouse Employment Partnership http://www.militaryonesource.mil/seco SPOUSE EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (SECO) • NON-DOD FINANCIAL AID (FAFSA, UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS, PELL GRANTS) • CAREER ASSESSMENT MY EDUCATION AND TRAINING • INTEREST/SKILL INVENTORIES • ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO OBTAINING LICENSES/ CREDENTIALS • POST 9/11 GI BILL • MILITARY SPOUSE CAREER ADVANCEMENT ACCOUNT (MYCAA) SCHOLARSHIP MY CAREER EXPLORATION MY CAREER READINESS • RESUME PREPARATION • MSEP - MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP • USAJOBS.GOV • REGIONAL AND LOCAL • INTERVIEW SKILLS MY CAREER CONNECTIONS • WORK ENVIRONMENT (PART/FULL-TIME) • CHILD CARE EMPLOYERS • TRANSPORTATION A SPOUSE-CENTRIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION AND CAREERS Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) 8 (MSEP) MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM A TARGETED RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION FOR SPOUSES AND COMPANIES THAT ENCOMPASSES: PARTNERS Fortune 500 Plus companies with ALL Military Services PROVIDES human resource (HR) managers with recruitment solutions – military spouses PREPARES military spouses to become competitive, “job ready” applicants CONNECTS military spouses with employers seeking the essential 21st century workforce skills and attributes they possess Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) 9 CORPORATE PARTNERS CORPORATE PARTNERS – CONT. MYCAA - MY CAREER ADVANCEMENT ACCOUNT This is an employment assistance program that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance to eligible military spouses who are pursuing: License Certification Associate’s degree in a portable career field and occupation https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/Default.aspx JOINING FORCES TAKING ACTION TO SERVICE AMERICA’S MILITARY FAMILIES “I want to send a very clear message to the men and women who are wearing – or who have worn – our country’s uniform and to their spouses: when you have finished your service to our nation, you’ve got 2,000 great American companies ready and waiting to bring you on board.”- Michelle Obama, 22 Aug 2012 http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces WHAT DOES JOINING FORCES DO? Provides support for Veterans and for military spouses to find jobs and to transition into their civilian careers. Through this effort, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden ask Americans to do more for those who have done so much for us. JOINING FORCES HELPS WITH SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT In many cases, military spouses move from one community to another when their spouses are assigned to new duty stations. These transfers can make it very difficult for spouses to continue with their careers or to find similar jobs in new locations JOINING FORCES HELPS CHILDREN WITH THEIR EDUCATION Military children move frequently due to a parent’s reassignment. These moves can make it difficult to transfer records, secure spaces in courses, stay included in extracurricular activities, and complete required testing on time. Supports the academic achievement of military children by helping schools become more responsive to the unique needs of military children and families. Encourages expansion of education opportunities. Easier transfer of credits for military-connected students. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE MILITARY SPOUSE & CHILD FAMILY TEAM BUILDING Family readiness support can be found in every branch Titles may vary, but the purpose is consistent Some of the major benefits provided by these programs are: Personal and professional growth Readiness and deployment support Self-reliance Self-sufficiency Embrace & manage CHANGE Volunteerism Family care planning Information and referral Involvement Networking and Insight Lifetime skills FAMILY TEAM BUILDING CONT’D (MARINE CORPS-SPECIFIC) Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge, & Skills (L.I.N.K.S.) welcomes Marine Corps family members to this unique, sometimes challenging, and very rewarding Military Lifestyle. L.I.N.K.S. is an orientation to "the Corps" through spouse to spouse mentorship and small group discussion. The Readiness & Deployment Support Program provides knowledge and skills to military personnel and their families in an effort to enhance military life. Especially in preparation for separations and deployments LifeSkills Training & Education provides connection to, or facilitation of, various workshops in such areas as parenting, financial management, stress and anger management, and understanding personality differences. Family Readiness Program Training (FRPT) offers services to assist Commands in developing effective readiness programs while helping unit families become selfsufficient. FAMILY READINESS OFFICERS “Face” of the family readiness program for Commanding Officers May carry different titles across branches The Command’s direct link to Marines and families, in regards to family readiness matters Responsible for managing the four pillars of the Unit Personal & Family Readiness Program (UPFRP): Official Communication Readiness and Deployment Support Information and Referral Volunteer Management FAMILY READINESS VOLUNTEERS (MARINE CORPS-SPECIFIC) Command Team Advisors Volunteer at a strategic level Experienced spouses/ family members Family Readiness Assistants Volunteer under the supervision of Family Readiness Officers Aid in carrying out family readiness functions Unit Volunteers Volunteer whenever their schedule allows Commanding Officer Spouse/Senior Enlisted Spouse Highly encouraged to be involved due to their credit insights resulting from their experience(s) MILITARY ONESOURCE (MOS) • The Blog Brigade is the place to discover what military spouses are up to around the world. • Bloggers share their twists, turns, and tips aimed at (re)energizing others. • Entertaining • Different topics each month • Approved guest bloggers are authorized to use the Blog Brigade button on their personal blogs/websites http://blog-brigade.militaryonesource.mil/ MILITARY ONESOURCE (MOS) CONT’D • Counseling options available for those who are eligible: • Face-to-Face Counseling • Telephonic Non-medical Counseling • Online Counseling • Financial Counseling • Health and Wellness Coaching • International calling options are available • Check eligibility at: http://www.militaryonesource.mil/counseling?content_id=268640 • Many of these services are provided to eligible patrons FREE OF CHARGE. MILITARY FAMILY LIFE CONSULTANTS (MFLC) • Provides short-term, non-medical counseling to Service Members and their families • Provides education to help Service Members and their families understand the impact of stress, deployments, and family reunions following separations and deployments • Flexible service delivery • Provided on/off military installations • Services provided to individuals, couples, families, and groups • Children’s Support Program addresses impact of military life on children • Staffed with licensed clinical counselors • AVAILABLE TO ALL MILITARY BRANCHES SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICERS School Liaison Officers are a resource for all active duty military, no matter which branch of the Armed Forces they are attached with. They can assist with helping enroll a child into a school mid-year, & can help with local acclimatizing issues. Vision of the School Liaison: A community in which military and civilian partners work hand in hand to successfully educate and advocate for the military child. TUTOR.COM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PAYS FOR FREE ONLINE HOMEWORK HELP FOR MILITARY CHILDREN K THROUGH 12 Provides support for children who have a parent who is deployed and who is needs additional homework help Tutors are online 24/7 and available to help in more than 16 subjects, including test prep, proofreading, Math, Science, English and Social Studies. http://www.tutor.com/military SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN All Services offer support for families with young children The New Parent Support Program is an invaluable resource for expecting parents Baby Boot Camp Parenting Classes Single Parent Resources Home Visits CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (CDC) • Hourly Care • Part Day Programs • Half-Day Preschool • Toddler Playgroup • School Age Care Programs • Family Child Care • Emergency Child Care DRUG EDUCATION FOR YOUTH – DEFY Self-Esteem building program that provides tools to resist drugs, gangs, and alcohol DEFY has two phases. Phase I: Summer camp at a military base Phase II: Mentoring program that runs through the school year. Much more than just Drug Education UNITED THROUGH READING One of the most difficult things a child can experience is having a parent deployed to a war zone for an indeterminate period of time. • Their Military Program helps ease the stress of separation for military families by having deployed parents read children’s books aloud via DVD for their child to watch at home. HOW IT WORKS OPERATION PURPLE OPERATION PURPLE’S SPECIALLY DESIGNED PROGRAMS SERVE MILITARY FAMILIES IN THREE DIFFERENT PHASES OF MILITARY LIFE – DEPLOYMENT, REINTEGRATION, AND COMING TOGETHER AFTER AN INJURY. Operation Purple Camp Operation Family Retreats Operation Purple Healing Adventures www.militaryfamily.org SESAME STREET SESAME STREET AND MILITARY FAMILIES: ARMING MILITARY FAMILIES WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR DEPLOYMENT Nearly 800,000 preschoolers are separated from a parent serving in the U.S. military. Program provides support and practical education with Talk, Listen, Connect, a multiphase outreach initiative to help kids through deployments, combatrelated injuries, and the death of a loved one. http://www.sesameworkshop.org/ SITTERCITY.COM The Department of Defense funds memberships in the SitterCity Program for Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force families including active duty, Reserve and Guard. Helps them find sitters, nannies, before/after school Care, pet sitters, last minute care. Relieves stress from families. Especially helpful when families move to a new installation and have no other resources or people who can make reliable childcare recommendations. www.sittercity.com/dod REAL WARRIORS CAMPAIGN The Real Warriors Campaign is an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families. A multimedia public awareness campaign designed to encourage help-seeking behavior among service members, veterans and military families coping with invisible wounds An integral part of the Defense Department’s overall effort to encourage warriors and families to seek appropriate care and support for psychological health concerns http://www.realwarriors.net/family HELP FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND SPOUSES LOSING A PARENT OR SPOUSE IS A REALITY FOR MANY MILITARY FAMILIES Comfort Zone Camp http://www.comfortzonecamp.org/ TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors TOLL FREE 800-959-TAPS (8277) http://www.taps.org/survivors/ NCTSN - The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides support and help for military children. http://mfkb.nctsn.org/cwis/index.php QUESTIONS?