Family Readiness Groups (FRG 101) Aug 06

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Family Readiness Groups(FRG 101)Aug 06
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SESSION OBJECTIVE

• Oriented for spouses new to the military or for
  those who may have not had recent contact with
  FRGs
• Definitions
• Structure
• Responsibilities
• Funds
• OPERATION READY
• Resources

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CHALLENGES OF TODAY's ARMY AND THE FAMILY

• Changing Demographics
• Off-Post Populations
• Nature of Deployments Simultaneous Operations
• Rising Expectations

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DEFINITIONS
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FAMILY READINESS GROUPS An officially
command-sponsored organization of family members,
volunteers and soldiers belonging to a unit, that
together provide an avenue of mutual support and
assistance, and a network of communications among
family members, the chain of command and
community resources. One major goal of the
FRG is to help family members feel that they are
an integral part of the Army family.Source
OPERATION R.E.A.D.Y MyArmyLifetoo.com
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FRG Mission

• Act as an extension of the unit, providing
  official, accurate command information.
• Provide mutual support between the command and
  the FRG membership.
• Advocate more efficient use of available
  community resources.
• Help families solve problems at the lowest level.
• AR 608-1, Appendix J dated 21 July 2006

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FRG Factors

• Commanders budget for FRG activities
• The needs of Soldiers, civilian employees, and
  their families
• Command interest and emphasis
• The number of FRG members
• The time, energy, and creativity of FRG
  membership
• The makeup of the FRG, including the percentages
  of single Soldiers, number of years Soldiers and
  their families have served with the military,
  number of families with young children, and other
  family composition factors
• The units training and deployment schedule
• AR 608-1

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Membership is open to unit family members
(immediate and extended to include mothers,
fathers, aunts, etc.), as well as others
interested in the welfare of the soldiers
(community members, retirees)
FRG MEMBERSHIP

• Because membership is voluntary, consider the
  following and encourage participation
• Survey soldiers and family members to determine
  their needs and interests
• Welcome and communicate with newcomers soon after
  their arrival
• Provide child care during meetings
• Ensure FRGs provides timely and accurate
  information, especially during deployments

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FRG

• Family Readiness is a Commanders responsibility
  (AR 600-20)
• Official command sponsored organization
• Network between the chain of command, family
  members, and resources
• Information
• Foster competent, knowledgeable, and resilient
  families
• Mutual support
• Advocate efficient use of community resources
• Promote soldier and family readiness
• Contribute to the well-being of the unit

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STRUCTURE
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FRG STRUCTURE

• Structure should be tailored to the unit, its
  mission, and demographics of the family members
• Agencies that can help establish an FRG include
• Other units or organizations with FRGs
• ACS, RC Family Program Coordinators
• Unit staff, Chaplain
• Installation Volunteer Coordinator
• Types of Structures
• Battalion
• Garrison
• Reserve Component

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Family Readiness GroupEssential Ingredients

• Strong, caring leadership
• Effective organization in a positive, friendly
  environment
• Work, train, and play well together
• Plan and enjoy fun activities, and include
  everyone
• Communicate well and share timely, accurate
  information
• Make Army units and families stronger

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Family Readiness GroupCommon Problems

• Leadership (lack of, or not the right kind)
• Not enough fun activities
• Organization
• Communication
• Training

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Family Readiness Group ModelBattalion
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Family Readiness Group ModelGarrison
Garrison
Steering Committee
Directorate
Directorate
Hospital
HHC
A
B
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Family Readiness Group ModelReserve Component
RC BN
Steering Committee
Co A
Co B
Co C
HHC
Town A
Town B
Town C
Town BN
Contact Person
Contact Person
Contact Person
Town 1
Town 2
Town 3
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TYPICAL STEERING COMMITTEE BN/BDE

• Commander
• CSM
• Rear Detachment Commander
• Senior Spouse Advisor(s)
• Family Readiness Group Leader(s)
• Chaplain
• Member of Staff
• Company Commander/1SG
• Volunteer Chairperson
• Single Soldiers

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RESPONSIBILITIES
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Commanders Responsibility

• Army Family Readiness Group Operations Appendix
  J of
• AR 600-20, Command Policy.
• FRGs are established at company level with
  Battalion/Brigade playing an important advisory
  role.
• Provide the AVCC FRG volunteer work hours
  monthly.
• All statutory volunteers are provided job
  description and are supervised (FRG leader, fund
  custodian, newsletter editor, etc.)

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Steering Committee Responsibilities

• Oversees and supports FRG activities in the
  command
• Provides assistance to FRG leaders at all levels
• Coordinates with higher HQS on policies and
  issues
• Provide guidance, information, and support
• Provide a link between the unit and the
  community

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Battalion/Brigade Commander/CSM
Responsibilities

• Creates a climate of caring for families
• Prepares family readiness plan and sets goals for
  the Battalion/Brigade
• Selects FRG steering committee chair
• Participates in steering committee meetings
• Reviews FRG programs in the command
• Coordinates with higher command on major family
  readiness issues
• Ensures recognition of FRG leaders and volunteers
• Reviews financial records

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Company/BatteryCommander/lSG Responsibilities

• Creates a climate of caring for families
• Prepares family readiness plan and sets goals for
  the unit
• Appoints FRG leader and treasurer
• Approves FRG fundraisers and activities
• Encourages all soldiers and families to
  participate
• Ensures recognition of FRG leaders and volunteers
• Reviews financial records

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CSM Responsibilities
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Rear Detachment Commander Responsibilities

• Serves as unit commander during deployment
• Helps resolve family readiness problems OR refers
  them to the appropriate agency
• Maintains regular contact with the deployed unit
• Is the link between the FRG and military
  resources
• The point of contact for official actions

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Senior Spouse Advisor (s)

• Information conduit between the command, FRGs,
  and families
• Helps identify common issues or concerns
• Promotes supports volunteers
• Participates offers assistance as needed or
  requested
• Serves on the BN/BDE Steering Committee

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The leader can be any family member in the unit
whom the Commander has appointed and endorsed
Family Readiness Group Leader (s) Responsibilities

• Become knowledgeable of unit mission, FRG
  operating procedures, structure, community
  resources
• Organize unit-level support groups
• Track and record volunteer hours
• Prepare and maintain telephone tree
• Call the key contact person to activate the
  telephone tree
• Attend and chair FRG meetings
• Communicate with the Commander and unit POC
• Coordinate with community resources to provide
  training for FRG members
• Provide job descriptions for volunteers
• Recruit and train volunteers
• Insure communication is maintained among the
  members

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Chaplain Responsibilities
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Staff Member Responsibilities
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Company Commander / 1SG Responsibilities
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Volunteer Chairperson Responsibilities
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Single Soldiers Responsibilities
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VOLUNTEERS

• Advisor
• Chairperson/Key Volunteer
• Newsletter Editor
• Treasurer
• Contact Persons
• Child Care Coordinator
• Refreshment Coordinator
• Hospitality Coordinator

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Advisor Responsibilities
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Chairperson/Key Volunteer Responsibilities
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Treasurer Responsibilities
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Contact Persons Responsibilities
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Child Care Coordinator Responsibilities
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Refreshment Coordinator Responsibilities
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Hospitality Coordinator Responsibilities
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Family Readiness Group Deployment Support
Assistants/Mobilization Deployment Assistants

• Coordinates training and provide administrative
  collaboration between the rear detachment
  commander and the FRG leader. The deployment
  assistant will not duplicate services or overlap
  with existing resources.
• Works for the commander.
• Is not involved with FRG informal fundraising
  activities, casualty assistance procedures,
  family counseling

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NEWSLETTERS

• SOP outlining preparation, printing, and
  distribution of FRG newsletter.
• FRG newsletter states whether it contains only
  official or both official and unofficial
  information.
• When the newsletter contains both The inclusion
  of some unofficial information in this FRG
  newsletter has not increased the costs to the
  government, in accordance with DoD 4525.8-M, DoD
  Official Mail Manual.

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IdeasLessons Learned
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Lessons Learned

• Conduct meetings
• Telephone tree or chain of concern
• Newsletters
• Assistance during trauma
• Figure out what the individuals need from the
  FRG
• Challenges of new people
• Resources families need (activities, training,
  support)
• What changes during the deployment cycle
  (pre/during/post) that affect the soldier
  and/or family members?

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IDEAS...

• Videotapes of soldiers/families
• Routine telephone calls
• Unit Website
• Newsletters
• Volunteer recognition
• Job descriptions
• Volunteer training
• Social activities
• 1-800 phone numbers to unit Rear-Detachment
• Include extended family members in the FRG

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FUNDS
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FUNDS

• Appropriated and Nonappropriated Funds
• Training and travel of official statutory
  volunteers
• Reimbursement of incidental expenses
• Awards, recognition, and mementos. Appropriated
  funds will not be authorized for volunteer
  awards other than official certificates of
  recognition or volunteer incentive awards in
  accordance with AR 672-20

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FRG Generated Funds

• Must support group goals
• Non-interest bearing account
• Maintain accountability of incoming and outgoing
  dollars
• Commanders may authorize FRGs to maintain
  informal funds. Informal funds are limited to
  expenses consistent with the purpose and function
  of the fund.
• FRGs with an informal fund must have an
  organizing SOP detailing the FRG mission,
  activities and procedures.
• Unit Commander must sign a letter designating
  the fund custodian and an alternate

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Informal Fund SOP

• FRG name
• Description of the fund purpose/functions and
  summary of routine activities
• Include the statement This FRG informal fund
  is for the benefit of the FRG members only and is
  established exclusively for charitable purposes
  and to provide support to Soldiers and family
  members as Soldiers and families adapt to Army
  life. It is not a business and is not being run
  to generate profits. It is not an
  instrumentality of the United States Government.
• SOP approved by the commander and majority of the
  FRG membership.
• Signed (at least) by the FRG leader, fund
  custodian and alternate fund custodian

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FRG Generated Funds

• Informal funds cannot be mixed with other funds.
• SOP is approved by the unit commander and
  majority of the FRG members. Signature should
  include the FRG leader and fund custodian.
• Informal funds capped at 5,000.
• Garrison commanders may accept unsolicited gifts
  into the supplemental mission program.
• No commercial sponsorship
• Internal fundraising only

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DEPLOYMENTS
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Personal and Family ReadinessConcerns of Young
Spouses

• Lengthy separations or deployments
• Single parenting during a spouses absence
• Separation for your family or friends
• Change in family budget
• Adjustment to daily routines
• Career change

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Planning For Deployment

• EMOTIONAL CONCERNS
• express your feelings
• encourage others
• plan an activity
• PRACTICAL CONCERNS
• deployment budget
• role/responsibility changes
• legal concerns
• family care plans

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Deployment Topics - FRGs

• Talking to children about deployment
• Family security and safety
• Family finances and budgets
• Requests for assistance
• Family emergencies
• Dealing with trauma/crisis
• Dealing with the media

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Pre-deployment Checklist

• FINANCIAL
• Management of savings/checking account?
• Property auto insurance information,
  expiration, cost?
• Who does the income taxes? Special provisions
  when soldier is deployed?
• Bills, credit card information?
• LEGAL
• Do you your spouse have a will?
• Do you have a power of attorney?
• Pending court cases, outstanding
  traffic/parking pickets?
• Other
• Safety and security cautions for you and your
  home?
• Working telephone? Emergency numbers?
• Crisis plan for you and your family?
• Help with the children?
• Where do you call home?

Source Operation R.E.A.D.Y
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Prepare the Children

• Spend time with your child
• Explain what is happening - why, where, with
  whom, and how long
• Talk about the rules (house rules, not just Mom
  or Dad)
• Encourage older siblings or neighbor children to
  talk about what they did during previous
  deployments
• Pictures with the deploying parent is important -
  display at your childs eye level
• Have the deploying parent read or tell stories on
  tape for future listening

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During Deployment

• KEEP IN TOUCH letters, phone calls, pictures,
  tape recordings/video cassettes, VTC
• Work through emotions
• TIPS FOR MANAGING THE HOUSEHOLD take care of
  oneself, take care of the children, think
  safety and security, seek help from rear
  detachment and family readiness group when needed
• PREPARE FOR REUNION look at expectations, role
  changes, budget changes, expect the unexpected,
  go slow, think before you spend
• RESOURCES family readiness group, family
  assistance centers, spouses clubs, chaplain, red
  cross, USO, social service agencies, installation
  staff - ACS, AER

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REUNION
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Reunion - Issues
What if You have done the finances and
want to keep doing it? The baby does not
recognize Mom or Dad? Your spouse is not
the same person (illness/injury) that left?
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Childrens Reactions - Reunion

• Children react to reunions according to their
  age
• Infants may not recognize the Mom or Dad
• may change their eating and
  sleeping habits
• may cling to mom/dad or
  caregiver
• Children ages 1 to 3 may not recognize Mom
  or Dad
• may have temper tantrums
• may regress (no longer
  toilet trained)
• may cling to mom/dad or
  caregiver
• Children ages 3 to 5 may demonstrate anger
• may feel guilt (why did mom
  or dad go away?)
• may talk a lot
• Children ages 5 to 12 may dread the
  soldiers return
• but at same time boasts
  about the Army and parent
• Teens likely to be excited
• may feel guilty about not
  living up to standards
• may be concerned about the
  rules
• may be rebellious

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RESOURCES
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OPERATIONR.E.A.D.Y
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OPERATION R.E.A.D.Y(Resources for Educating
About Deployment and You)(MyArmyLifeToo.com)

• Target Audience
• Soldiers, Families, Civilians
• Areas of Instruction
• Pre-deployment
• Post-deployment
• Family Assistance Center
• Family Readiness Groups

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OPERATION READYResources for Educating About
Deployment and You

• The Army Family Readiness Handbook revised and
  updated reference for commanders, leaders, ACS,
  and unit family readiness personnel in the 21st
  century
• The Army Leaders Desk Reference for
  Soldier/Family Readiness (new) handbook for
  commanders and other leaders to understand and
  address family readiness
• The Soldier/Family Deployment Survival Handbook
  (new) handbook for soldiers and their families to
  use during deployments. Designed to allow units
  to personalize it with unit-specific information,
  local support agencies on and off-post
• Army FRG Leaders Handbook provides an overview
  of family readiness group, purpose, structure
  functions, command member responsibilities, key
  leader job descriptions, as well as ideas on
  building and leading effective FRGs

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• Family Assistance Center -- Training module
  focused for those involved with establishing and
  operation a Family Assistance Center for families
  of deployed soldiers, survivors of mass casualty
  events, or victims of natural disasters
  (supplemented by a video, Family Assistance
  Center)
• Predeployment and Ongoing Readiness -- Training
  module for basic training for families whose
  soldier is about to be deployed. Lessons include
  pre-deployment problems how to avoid them
  financial issues coping with separation and
  ideas for how children can cope with an absent
  parent (supplemented by videos, Practical
  ReadinessSmart Ways to Minimize Deployment
  Hassles and Coping with Stress four sets of
  age-graded materials for children from preschool
  to high school ages)
• Homecoming and Reunion -- Training module to
  inform soldiers and families of reunion dynamics
  and ideas on how to deal with them. (supplemented
  by a video, Making Your Reunion Work)

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FRG Checks

• Key Volunteer Appointments
• SOP
• Telephone Tree
• Newsletter
• Meetings
• Communication

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Initiatives.

• AFTB and USAREC partnership of AFTB Level 1 II.
• Army Family Team Building (AFTB) training online
• 2nd Bde, 2nd Infantry Division first to develop
  and field a web-based Virtual Family Readiness
  Group (VFRG)
• Virtual FRG (vFRG) www.armyfrg.org
• MyArmyLifeToo.com one-stop knowledge center
• General knowledge component/personal development
  component/other
• Operation Ready training modules undergoing
  revision to incorporate new information such as
  managing trauma.
• Soldier Family Life Consultant Program
  provides counseling services to garrisons, NG,
  and USAR
• FRG Deployment Support Assistants brigade level
  for TOE units
• FRG Leader training
• Rear Detachment Commander training online
• Family Readiness Group Leader Training
  www.MyArmyLifeToo.com (Lifelong
  Learning/e-Learning Center)

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Initiatives.

• Army Spouse Employment Partnership
  www.MilitarySpouseJobSearch.org
• The Army Casualty Memorial Affairs Operation
  Center has a new resource for survivors.
  Families First Casualty Call Center (FFCCC)
• Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
• 1-866-272-5841
• Email at FFCCC_at_hoffman.army.mil
• TRICARE fact sheets http//www.tricare.osd.mil/f
  actsheets/index.cfm?

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New Resources

• Our Hero Handbook Army War College Class of
  2006. A guide walk wounded service members and
  their families from day 1 through recovery and
  transition.
• www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/herohandbook
• American Legions Family Support Network
• 1-800-5-4-4098
• Department of Veterans Affairs online disabled
  transition assistance
• www.vetsuccess.gov
• Sesame Street DVD packets to help families during
  deployment
• www.militaryonesource.com (for children 2-5
  years)
• Guide for Military Children and Deployment
  developed by Strategic Outreach for All Reserves
  this is a guide to help parents, teachers and
  toher care providing adults
• www.sofarusa.org

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Resources...

• Operation R.E.A.D.Y MyArmyLifeToo.com
• Job Descriptions
• Activities
• The Army Leaders Desk Reference for
  Soldier/Family Readiness
• The Soldier/Family Deployment Survival Handbook
• AFTB MyArmyLifeToo.com
• Army Family Liaison Office armyfamiliesonline.or
  g
• Family Support Web Portal -- MyArmyLifeToo.com
• Virtual Family Readiness Groups www.ArmyFRG.org

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Resources...

• Army Spouse Employment Partnership with US
  Community Family Support Center and Department
  of Labor -- milspouse.org
• U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Call
  Center -- https//www.aw2.army.mil
  1-800-833-6622

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