Army Community Services Serving Our Military in Hard Times

Kimberly Bottema Army Community Services Information, Referral and Follow-up Manager

Objectives

 Educate Information & Referral specialists on services available to Military Personnel and their Families  Discuss client eligibility/non-eligibility  Detailed information on the Army Community Service Programs

Army Community Services - Mission

Assist commanders in maintaining readiness of individuals, Families, and communities within America’s Army by developing, coordinating, and delivering services which promote self-reliance, resiliency, and stability during war and peace.

Client Eligibility

(Army Regulation 608-1)

 All Active Duty and Retired military personnel and their family members  Members of U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve when on active duty and their family members  Appropriate fund and non appropriated fund employees and their family members (Dept of Defense Civilian Employees)  Surviving Family members of military personnel who died while on active duty  Family members of prisoners of war or personnel missing in action (POW/MIA)

Not Eligible

 Veterans and their Families  This is a Soldier that was in the military for a short amount of time but didn’t complete 20 years of Service  Disabled Veterans and their Families  National Guard and Reserve Soldiers (Title 32)  Retired National Guard and Reserve Soldiers if they’re not age 60 and have a Retired ID card.

ACS Programs

            Army Family Team Building Army Family Action Plan Army Volunteer Corps Employment Readiness Program Exceptional Family Member Program Family Advocacy Program Financial Readiness Program Mobilization & Deployment Information and Referral & Outreach Relocation Readiness Survivor Outreach Service Soldier and Family Assistance Center

Army Family Team Building

 AFTB Levels I, II, and III  Instructor Training  Master Trainer Course  Drill Sgt Spouse Seminar FREE online training available at: www.myarmyonesource.com

Anyone can take them but you must register with the site – select N/A for military affiliation and you will get in.

Army Family Action Plan

 Annual issue resolution process addressing military quality of life  Issues from installation conferences are forwarded for higher level resolution  Has resulted in: SGLI increase to $400,000; transfer of Montgomery GI Bill to dependents; paternity leave for military fathers; and hundreds of other legislative changes

Army Volunteer Corps

 Recruitment, training and placement of volunteers  Recognition of volunteers  Liaison between Command Group and installation volunteers

Employment Readiness

 Career Counseling & Job Search Assistance  Workshops/Seminars resume writing -starting and running a small business -interviewing techniques -work-from-home opportunities -career exploration -computer classes  Information on Federal & Private Sector Employment  Information on Educational & Volunteer Opportunities  Internet Access, Job Bank & Resource Library  Semi-Annual Job Fairs  Client assigned an individual career development coach

Exceptional Family Member Program

EFMP Services

 Information & Referral to installation and local community services      Assistance with special accommodations with housing Support Group/Recreational and cultural activities Childcare placement (Special Needs Accommodation Process) Respite Care Relocation Assistance    Training Advocacy Networking (Facebook, twitter, email distribution, newsletters)

Family Advocacy

 Prevention Education  Prevention of Spouse & Child Abuse classes; Stress & Anger Management Classes; Fatherhood Program  New/Sole Parent Support  Home Visitation Services, Baby Care workshops, Parenting Classes, & free baby bundles to new parents  Victim Advocacy Program  Empowering victims of Domestic Violence to make quality of life decisions.

 Fatherhood Initiative  Promotes, supports and recognizes responsible fatherhood through community events and recognition ceremonies .

Financial Readiness



Financial Counseling

 Free & confidential counseling on personal finances and assistance with debt liquidation 

Seminars on Financial & Consumer Subjects

 Money management, financial planning, credit, retirement planning, TSP, insurance, consumer rights & responsibilities, car buying, home buying, etc 

Consumer Advocacy/Assistance with Complaint Resolution



Emergency Financial Assistance

 Army Emergency Relief (AER)  Emergency Food Checks

Army Emergency Relief (AER)

 Private Non Profit Corporation incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War & the Army Chief of Staff.

 Receives contributions from active and retired Soldiers (14.2%), repayment of AER interest-free loans (65.1%), investment income (20.3%), and unsolicited contributions (0.4%).

 Primary mission is to provide

emergency financial assistance

to Soldiers (active and retired) and their Families.

 In

2011

AER provided

$77.5 MILLION

to more than

64,000

Soldiers and their Families.

 AER assists 10.5% of Active Force each year with 92% of assistance going to SSG and below

Who does AER help?

 Active and Retired Soldiers and their dependents  U. S. Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers on continuous active duty for more than 30 days (Title 10) and their dependents  Surviving spouses and orphans of Soldiers who died while on active duty or after they retired

Authorized Categories (Army Reg 930-4)

    

Emergency Needs

   Food Utilities Rent/Mortgage POV repairs Emergency Transportation Funeral Expenses Medical/Dental expenses Personal needs when pay is delayed or stolen   Child Care Undergraduate-level education Scholarships for children & spouses of Soldiers (active & retired)

Where to go for help?

1.

Army Community Services 2.

Unit Commander/1SG 3.

Local AER section 4.

If no AER section nearby then through: - American Red Cross (877-272-7337) - Air Force Aid Society - Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Information & Referral Outreach

Information & Referral Assistance

 Key source of integrated information that brings Soldiers and services together every day with ease, compassion, and quality to meet vital needs of all Soldiers, DA Civilians, retirees and their families.

Outreach

 Program designed to develop a stronger sense of self-reliance and belonging in the military community, focusing on education/prevention, direct services, and organizing support networks to encourage self help and cultivate a sense of ownership within the military community.

Facebook: facebook.com/FTJACKSON.ACS.OUTREACH

Twitter: FtJacksonACS

Mobilization and Deployment

 Pre & Post Deployment Briefings - Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) - Information & Referral Assistance  Classes/Training Offered: - Family Readiness Group (FRG) - Rear Detachment (RD) - Welcome Home/Reunion  Family Assistance Center (FAC)  Repatriated Family Assistance

Relocation Readiness

           Relocation Assistance Counseling Electronic Welcome Packets/Children Games/Maps, etc.

Sponsorship Training English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes/Resources Foreign Born Spouse Support Group Citizenship and Immigration Services In/Out Processing of Soldiers Newcomer’s Orientation Lending Closet Phase II Levy/Stateside Briefings Hearts Apart Support Group

Soldier Family Assistance Center

Services provided to Warriors in Transition

 Human Resource Services / Training  Educational Services / Workshops  Information / Social Service Referrals  Social Security Disability Application  Legal Assistance / Pastoral Care (Call Forward)  ACAP Services

Survivor Outreach Services

 Serve as advocate for Survivors of Active Duty Fallen Soldiers.

 Information and Referral service, linking Family members to on and off-post programs and organizations.

 Assistance with financial planning, advice, money management, education and advocacy.

Committed to the Families of Our Fallen Warriors

Sister Services

ARMY – Army Community Services NAVY – Navy Fleet and Family Services AIR FORCE – Airmen and Family Readiness Center MARINES – Marine and Family Programs COAST GUARD – Office of Work-Life Programs

Military One Source

800-342-9647 Everyday Issues Relationships Relocation Financial Matters Family Support Education and Schooling

Military One Source

www.militaryonesource.com

Deployment Health and Wellness

Army One Source

www.myarmyonesource.com

Words of Wisdom

“ No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care” - Theodore Roosevelt

Additional Resources

            American Red Cross – www.redcross.org

- 877-272-7337 Armed Forces Foundation  www.armedforcesfoundation.org

Army Emergency Relief – – 202-547-4713 www.aerhq.org

– 866-878-6378 Army One Source – Hire Heroes USA – www.myarmyonesource.com

www.Hireheroesusa.org

– 866-915-4376 Military One Source – www.militaryonesource.com

Operation Homefront – – 800-342-9647 www.operationhomefront.net

United Way www.unitedway.org

211 www.211.org

Unmet Needs – 866-892-9211 www.vfw.org/NMS - 866-789-6333 USA Cares – www.usacares.org

Veterans Affairs – www.va.gov

– 800-773-0387 – 800-273-8255, press 1

QUESTIONS / COMMENTS / CONCERNS? Army Community Services Fort Jackson, South Carolina Kimberly Bottema 803-751-5256