Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP)

1. Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP) Alicia Russo NYS Military OneSource JFSAP Consultant Jolene Kent-Stanley Child & Youth Behavioral MFLC

2. The Challenge • Increased stressors on Reserve component due to current ops tempo • Geographically dispersed families may be unaware of resources and supports • Communities unaware of military needs and culture • Perceived lack of support can result in significant disruption during periods of deployment

3. A Solution FY07 National Defense Authorization Act, Sect 675: The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a joint family support assistance program for the purpose of providing assistance to families of the members of the Armed Forces including: • Financial and material assistance • Mobile support services • Sponsorship of volunteers and family support • Coordination of family assistance programs • Facilitation of discussion on military family assistance programs between and among military & civilian stakeholders

4. Military Community & Family Policy Authority OSD Office of Military Community & Family Policy(MCFP) • Technical assistance, training and guidance • Evaluates outcome measures and develops Congressional reports • Support of team’s co-location at Joint Force HQ • Support of Total Force, Joint and Inter-Service capabilities

5. Military Community & Family Policy Authority Joint Family Support Resource Center (JFRC) • Gather and disseminate information and resources • Implement JFSAP trainings • Partner with national organizations • Resolve state-specific issues • Scheduling of JFSAP members for events and briefings • Identify issues and trends

6. JFRC • Toll Free: 888-256-9920 • Email: jfsap@jfsap.org • Web: http://jfsap.mhf.dod.mil • 30 Day lead time

7. Goals • Create a web-enabled community that will allow families to connect with each other and supportive resources 24/7 • Increase the availability of resources for families • Increase awareness of members and families of resources available to them • Inform command and support staff about resources and how they can be accessed • Integrate services and information into a a cohesive delivery system that can be accessed at any stage of deployment

8. JFSAP Supports Intervention & Counseling Life Skills Education Emergency Financial Assistance Referral Advocacy Inter-service Coordination Resource Awareness Education Youth/Parent Education Programs National, State & Community Referrals Accessing Resources & Services

9. What Does This Mean? • JFSAP team located in each state • Travel throughout the state to work with all service branches • Outreach and assistance to members, families & Command • Information, advocacy, resources and referrals • Support of other service providers • Community Capacity Building

10. Community Capacity Building • Partner with State, local and civilian non-profit programs • Develop and maintain relationships with CPOCs • Assess family needs and help ameliorate gaps in support programs • Educate the civilian sector about the culture, strengths and needs of military in their community • Support the building of stronger ties between the military and other support programs • Connect members, families and Command with resources • And…

11. Support of Military Stakeholders • Develop and maintain relationships with identified MPOCs • Partner with DoD approved support programs • Assess and differentiate strengths and needs of varying branches and units • Support mobilization, deployment and reintegration cycle • Provide information resources to military support personnel • Educate the military about available civilian resources to decrease redundancy in program development “What’s out there and how can you use it?”

12. Team Members • Military OneSource Consultant (MOSC) • Child & Youth Behavioral MFLC (CYB) • Military Family Life Consultant (MFLC) • And the choice of another position from above or a Personal Financial Consultant (PFC)

13. Military OneSource Consultant • Subject matter expert regarding Military OneSource resources and programs • Regional expert on community resources • Connect families with mental health and financial counseling programs • Develop partnerships to coordinate military and community resources • Disseminate information and resources between all involved parties

14. Child & Youth Behavioral MFLC • Child development subject matter expert • Outreach to families with children to assess strengths and needs • Provide parenting and child development information • Short-term supportive counseling and support referrals • Develop child and youth resources within the community • Increase parent’s understanding of the affects of the deployment cycle on children and youth • Partner with educators to increase understanding of military culture • Assist OSD with dissemination of new initiatives

15. Military & Family Life Consultant • Provide short-term, non-medical counseling to individuals, couples and groups • Life skills and military lifestyle psycho-educational groups • Increase mental health resources within communities

16. Personal Financial Consultant • Provide financial education, counseling, information and referrals to members and families • Partner with Federal, State and local financial programs • Consult and train units and Command to increase financial readiness • Assist OSD with dissemination of financial initiative information

17. Resources Military OneSource • Active Duty, Guard and Reserve • Military members, spouses, families, service providers • Private and no-cost • Information, programs and resources • Educational Materials • Podcasts, libraries, toolkits www.militaryonesource.com 800-342-9647

18. Resources MilitaryHOMEFRONT • MC&FP program and policy information • For families, leaders and service providers • HOMEFRONT Connections • MC&FP eMagazine • National Resource Directory • Plan My Move • Casualty Assistance • JFSAP Information www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

19. Resources American Red Cross • Emergency Communications Services • Access to Armed Forces Emergency Services • Casualty Travel Assistance Program (CTAP) • Volunteer opportunities for members and families • Training support of military families; Babysitting, Pet First Aid and swimming courses • Deployment support www.redcross.org 1-202-303-5000

20. Resources Operation Military Kids • Speak Out For Military Kids • Ready! Set! Go! • Hero Packs • Yellow Ribbon • Summer camps www.operationmilitarykids.org

21. Resources Zero To Three • Coming Together Around Military Families (CTAMF) • Parent Flyers • Supporting Young Children brochures • Honoring Our Babies and Toddlers • CTAMF E-newsletter www.zerotothree.org

22. Resources Our Military Kids • Children of deployed National Guard & Reserve • Children Active Duty, Guard & Reserve severely injured service members • Grants for sports, fine arts, and tutoring • Other eligible programs i.e. Camp www.ourmilitarykids.org 703-734-6654

23. Resources Sittercity • DoD partnership = no-cost military memberships • Self-service tool for matching parents with services • Spouses can post resumes and find jobs • Babysitters: afterschool, extended work, PCS • Nannies, pet sitting, eldercare, tutoring • Background checks, approved installation access, and references www.sittercity.com/dod

24. Resources National Military Family Association • Military family oriented information • Programs to sustain the military family • Military spouse scholarship program • Operation Purple program www.militaryfamilies.org

25. Resources Military K-12 Partners • Students at the Center • Tutor.com • For military, educators, and parents • Parent and educator information • Legislation, grants & funding • Military school liaison directories and contacts www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu

26. JFSAP Summary • Mobile social support team for members and families • Total force and Joint • Focus on geographically dispersed members • Development of relationships with military, Federal, state and local agencies • Assessment of available resources • Identification and amelioration of resource gaps • Support partnerships between military and civilian sectors • Dissemination of resource availability to command, staff, service and family members