Family Readiness

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Family Readiness

• Family Readiness Coordinator
• Chief Warrant Officer Four Shelly Sizer
• Family Readiness Program Assistant
• Linda Vig

2
Agenda

• NDNG Family
• Family Readiness System
• About the Family Program (Vision/Mission)
• Organizational Components
• Family Program Initiatives
• Family Readiness Group (FRG)
• FRG Resources Trainings
• Next Steps
• Questions, Comments, and Concerns

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The NDNG Family

• Soldiers and Airmen (regardless of marital
  status), civilian employees, retirees, and their
  family members
• Both immediate and extended
• Including spouses, parents, siblings,
  aunts/uncles, fiancés, grandmas/grandpas, etc

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About the Family Program

• A Joint Force initiative
• Acts as a network that allows families to
  mutually support one another

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Family Readiness System
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Family Readiness

• Family readiness is the state of preparedness of
  soldiers and their families through proactive
  education and support programs that promote
  self-reliance and enhance individual and family
  well being.

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Family Support

• Family support is the mutual reinforcement
  provided to soldiers, civilian employees,
  retirees and their family membersboth immediate
  and extended.
• Examples include Family Readiness Groups,
  newsletters, telephone trees, and other volunteer
  programs and activities.

8
Family Assistance

• Family Assistance is the contractual or statutory
  obligation the Army has to provide assistance
  (e.g., ID cards, Defense Enrollment Eligibility
  Reporting System DEERS, TRICARE) to its
  soldiers, civilian employees, retirees, and their
  dependents.
• This obligation also extends to the programs and
  services commanders use to fulfill their morale,
  welfare, and quality of life responsibilities,
  such as youth programming, Morale, Welfare, and
  Recreation (MWR) programs, etc.

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Vision

• An enhanced quality of life for National Guard
  members, their families, and the communities in
  which they live.

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Mission

• To establish and facilitate ongoing
  communication, involvement, support, and
  recognition between National Guard families and
  the National Guard in a partnership that promotes
  the best in both.

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Organizational Components

• Joint Force Family Headquarters Office
• Family Assistance Centers
• Family Readiness Groups/Family Support Groups
• NDNG Family Executive Council

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NDNG Family Program
TAG/DAG
AAG - Army
AAG - Air
State Family Director
Air Family Coordinator
Army Family Coordinator
Air Lead Volunteer
Program Asst. (West)
Licensed Social Worker
Licensed Social Worker
Note Effective 12 February 2006
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Chaplain Social Workers

• Care of family and Soldiers
• Spiritual and mental health guidance
• Brief counseling and community referrals
• Fulltime and M-day service members, families,
  children, and retirees
• Marriage and Relationship Enhancement (MRE)

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Family Assistance Centers

• ID Cards DEERS Enrollment
• TRICARE Medical Dental Assistance
• Coordination with Military Civilian Support
  Agencies
• Local Assistance to FRGs FSGs
• Financial Assistance
• Emergency Financial Assistance
• Legal Referrals
• Mental Emotional Health Referrals

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NDNG Family Assistance Center (FAC)
Locations Effective March 21, 2006,
MINOT Location Minot AFRC Days Open Monday -
Friday Hours 9AM to 5PM Phone [phone] or
1-800-720-1096 Family Assistance Advisor - Gary
Siewert
GRAND FORKS Location Grand Forks Armed Forces
Reserve Center Days Open Monday - Friday Hours
8AM to 4PM Phone [phone] or 1-800-399-0871 Famil
y Assistance Advisor Lowell Benson
C
701-739-9924
FARGO Location Armed Forces Reserve Center Days
Open Monday - Friday Hours 8AM to 4PM Phone
451-6090/6092/6093 or 1-800-460-1407 Family
Assistance Advisor JoAnn Czerwinski Licensed
Social Worker Jane Johnson C 866-7933
FARGO AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Jody Harms Family Readiness
Coordinator Location 119th Fighter Wing Days
Open Monday Friday Phone (W) 451-2112/ (C)
730-5394 / (H) 218-962-3501
BISMARCK Location RJB Armory, Room 130 Days
Open Monday - Friday Hours 8AM to 4PM Phone
333-3350/3351/3352/2187 or 1-800-317-4302 Family
Assistance Advisor Chuck Weiand Family
Assistance Advisor Janette Fetch Licensed
Social Worker Bernadette Ternes C
226-2905 Youth Coordinator Rick Marschner


CHAPLAIN MAJ David Johnson W [phone] C
[phone]
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NDNG Family Executive Council

• Vision A caring responsive community with the
  belief in the value of family, knowing it is
  essential to the readiness of the North Dakota
  National Guard in peace or war.
• Mission The first mission of the North Dakota
  National Guard Family Executive Council is to
  assess the needs of North Dakota National Guard
  families, to recommend programs to meet those
  needs, and to find resources for implementing the
  programs. The second mission of the Council is
  to assist the State Family Program Coordinator to
  carry out state level Family Program functions.
• A 25-member board representing all major commands
  and offices of the Air and Army National Guard.

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Family Program Initiatives

• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Family Readiness
• SRPs/FRPs
• Remobes
• Family Care Plans
• Current Family Operations
• Youth Programming
• Veterans Assistance
• PREP Marriage Enrichment
• TCR
• Advisory Board

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Family Readiness Group (FRG)

• What is a family readiness group?
• An officially sanctioned organization under a
  unit commander that provides information to and a
  support network for families and soldiers/airmen.
• An organization of family members, volunteers,
  soldiers, civilian employees, and concerned
  community members belonging to a
  unit/organization that together provide an avenue
  of mutual support and assistance with a network
  of communication among the family members, the
  chain of command, and community resources.

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A Family Readiness Group is

• An information conduit
• A welcoming organization
• A self-help, referral organization
• A source of social support and group activities
• A unit family dedicated to achieving social and
  military goals

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Family Readiness Group Offers

• A mutual support linkage of family members,
  volunteers, retirees, soldiers/airmen, civilian
  employees, and interested friends belonging to a
  unit.
• A sponsorship and orientation vehicle for new
  soldiers/airmen and civilian families to unit.
• A communication network among family members, the
  chain of command, and community resources.
• A commanders aid in developing deployment
  handbooks, coordinating predeployment briefing
  needs, providing quality of life training for
  family members, and sharing issues from the
  family members chain of command.
• A referral source for appropriate resources
  relative to family needs.

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FRG is not.

• A coffee group or club
• Another military organization
• A professional counseling agency
• A taxi service
• Babysitting service
• Part of the casualty notification process
• Financial or Lending institution
• A surrogate parent, guardian, or social worker

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FRG Mission

• The FRG mission is to assist commanders in
  maintaining readiness of soldiers/airmen,
  families, and communities within the North Dakota
  National Guard by promoting self-sufficiency,
  resiliency, and stability during peace and war.

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Goals of FRG

• Build soldier/airmen and family cohesion and
  morale
• Prepare soldiers/airmen and families for
  separations during deployments and, later, for
  the stresses of reunion
• Reduce soldier/airmen and family stress
• Reduce the commanders workload and other
  leaders workloads
• Help soldiers focus on their mission during
  deployments
• Help families become more self-sufficient
• Provide an avenue for sharing timely, accurate
  information
• Promote better use of community resources/services

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Do we need FRG?

• Consider these facts from the Army Community and
  Family Support Center..
• 60 of soldiers are married
• Ratio of immediate family members to soldiers is
  about 60 to 40
• Ratio of children to soldier-parents is 1-2
• 6 of soldier-parents are single
• Single soldiers have concerned families too
• Families help soldiers make care decisions
• The single most important concern of soldiers is
  that their families will be taken care of, both
  during peace and deployments.

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Effective FRG needs.

• Leadership
• Organization
• Training
• Fun Activities
• Communication

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FRG.What is in it for us??

• Family Members
• A sense of belonging to the unit Guard Family
• A way to develop friendships, share important
  information, obtain referrals to
  resources/services, share moral support during
  unit deployments.
• For the long term, involvement in FRG activities
  can foster positive attitudes among Guard
  families and a better understanding of military
  life, the unit, and its mission.

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FRG.What is in it for us??

• Soldiers/Airmen
• Peace of mind.soldiers/airmen can be assured
  that their family members will be more
  self-sufficient and will have reliable and
  friendly support while they are deployed.
• Gives pride in family member involvement.
• Peace of mind can help soldiers/airmen focus on
  their work, perform better, relate better to
  other soldiers/airmen, and be safer while theyre
  on a training or real world mission.

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FRG.What is in it for us??

• Commanders
• Fosters increased levels of cohesion, confidence,
  and commitment.
• Offers an effective means of supporting families
  and for reducing trauma and stress.
• Lighten workload, especially in the area of
  soldier/airmen and family readiness issues.
• Can enhance camaraderie and unit readiness by
  promoting self-reliance and by helping
  soldiers/airmen and families to identify closely
  with the unit.
• Established relationship prior to a deployment.
• Retaining high quality soldiers/airmen and
  families

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FRG.What is in it for us??

• Community
• A well established FRG can help forestall serious
  family problems (family abuse, substance abuse,
  juvenile delinquency, child abuse, etc. ) that
  weaken Guard families.
• FRGs refer family members to military or civilian
  resources and help families develop coping skills
  and stronger family units.

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FRG.What is in it for us??

• North Dakota National Guard
• Enhances the military leaderships commitment to
  the quality of life for families.
• Successful FRG programs combined with community
  resources/services, help with NDNG achieve its
  primary goalsincluding the all-important goal of
  attracting and retaining high-quality
  soldiers/airmen and families in the National
  Guard.

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Family Readiness Group Tips

• Establish an SOP for your FRG
• Goals, scope, structure (leadership positions),
  responsibilities, etc.
• Develop an encouraging climate in which all
  family members feel free to participate
• All family members are equalThere is no rank!
• There are no dues!
• FRG Leaders should be true volunteers. FRG
  leadership positions should not be based upon
  their service members rank.
• Develop a formalized and active communication
  plan with families, volunteers, and command.
• Incorporate your FRG into unit activities,
  drills, etc.

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FRG Training Resource

• NDNG State Family Program Office
• NDNG Family Readiness Guide
• Operation Ready Material
• The Army Family Readiness Group Leaders Handbook
• Guard Family Team Building
• FRG training that is free and on-line
• www.gftb.org
• Army One Source (1-800-464-8107)
• www.armyonesource.org
• Userid army Password onesource
• National Guard Bureau
• www.guardfamily.org

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Training Opportunities
National Guard Critical Incident Stress
Management (CISM) Trained Crisis Responder (TCR)
Programs
Marriage and Relationship Enhancement (MRE) PREP
NDNG State Family Program Workshop April 28-30,
2006 in Fargo
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Other Training Resources

• On-line resources
• Guard Family Team Building
• NGB www.guardfamily.org
• State Resources
• On-site instruction (request to SFPO)
• State Family Program Workshop (April 28 -30, 2006
  in Fargo)

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Resources for Commanders
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
NDNG Youth Programming
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NDNG ERF

• Non-profit charitable organization
• Provides support in sudden unforeseen emergency
  situations
• Assists Commanders in accomplishing their goals
• North Dakota National Guard members or their
  Dependents
• Depending on availability of funds, grants are
  awarded for up to 2000
• Application on web at Family Assistance Centers
  (FACs)

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Military OneSource

• FREE! 24/7/365
• Eligibility All AD RC service members their
  family members
• OneSource is the referral source
• 6 Counseling sessions per person per issue in
  the individuals community
• Family issues
• Adjusting to return from deployment
• Grief counseling
• Marital issues
• Maybe used anonymously
• Educational Materials
• Education
• Child care
• Elder care
• Everyday Issues
• International
• Military Life

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Next Steps

• Contact the State Family Program Office
• Appoint in writing a Family Readiness Liaison
• Appoint in writing a Family Readiness Group
  Leader(s)
• Establish or Review Charter
• Develop Family Readiness Plan for your unit with
  your FRG leadership

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Serving the Home Front Study

• We are not disgruntled. This is our duty but
  its hard on the family.
• Interview with a Military Spouse
• 3 out 4 families would have difficulty coping
  with a deployment that was overseas for an
  undetermined length of time.
• US Army Community Family Support, Spring 01
• No one is responsible for taking care of me and
  my family, but it would be nice to know that
  someone cared.
• Interview with a Military Spouse
• Many Guard and Reserve families view the media
  as their main source of information.
• Often the change from a civilian way of life to
  a military way of life catches Guard and Reserve
  families operating under the natural idea that
  the service member is active duty but the family
  is still Guard or Reserve.

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Questions???

• One Guard One Family

Army Family Readiness Office CW4
Shelly Sizer
1-800-317-4302 shelly.sizer_at_nd.ngb.army.mil