Military Family Support

1
Military Family Support Barbara Thompson,
Director DoD Office of Family Policy/Children and
Youth

2
Family Support Responsibilities Military
Community Family Policy

• Develop Family Readiness policies
• Collaborate with the Military Services and other
  partners to develop and monitor family programs
• Provide outreach programs to augment Services
  resources.

Military Services

• Draft implementing policies
• Develop and monitor family programs at Military
  installations worldwide
• Family Centers
• Children Development Centers
• Morale Welfare Recreation Facilities

3
Changes in Family Landscape

• High operational tempo
• Large Guard and Reserve population deploying
• Deployment extensions
• Family isolation
• Single parent families
• Loneliness
• Financial issues
• Increasing stress

4
DoD Support to Members and Families

• Child Development Programs
• Youth Programs
• Commissaries Exchanges
• Defense State Liaison
• Dependents Education
• Domestic Child Abuse Prevention Treatment
• Exceptional Family Member Support
• Casualty Assistance Wounded Warrior Support

• Family Centers/Family Readiness
• Employment Assistance
• Personal Financial Management
• Life Skills Education
• Relocation Assistance
• Joint Support
• Emergency Family Assistance
• Morale, Welfare Recreation
• Military OneSource
• Partnerships
• Non-Medical Counseling

5
Outreach to Military Families

• Through the Joint Family Support Assistance
  Program
• Through the Defense State Liaison Office
• Through collaboration with federal and community
  partners

6
Military HOMEFRONT

• The official Department of Defense website for
  reliable quality of life information designed to
  help
• Military members and their families
• Leaders
• Service providers
• www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

7
JFSAP State Family Program Directors  
www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/sp/jfsap/stateinform
ation
8
Online Resources

• National Guard Family Programs
• http//www.jointservicessupport.org/FP/
• National Guard Bureau Joint Services Support
• http//www.jointservicessupport.org/
• Reserve Affairs Family Readiness
• http//ra.defense.gov/html/familyreadiness.html

9
Military OneSource

• 24/7 Resource for Military Members, Spouses
  and Families
• www.militaryonesource.com

10
Volunteer Opportunity Examples

• Family Store Volunteer
• Holiday and Seasonal Assistance Angel Tree Gift
  Distribution
• Childrens Advocacy Center Clothes Closet
• Document Shredding and Food Drive
• Renovation/Horticulture Project Assistance
• Waiting Room Attendant
• www.servicenation.org
• www.allforgood.org

11
Questions?

• barbara.thompson_at_osd.mil