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SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpH5L8zCtSk

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Objectives For Today

• Build confidence in your ability to address and resolve the needs of military families in your community.

• Familiarize yourself with the top resources available for use.

• Gain an understanding of the challenges and conflicts that these families face daily.

• Have a resource that you can turn to which will make helping these families less stressful.

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Format For This Webinar

• Where do I begin?• I have little to no Military background.• What is the Community Covenant USU

signed? How does it apply to me?• How can I as an extension member provide

services to Military families in need?• What resources are available for me to use?

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Extension

• MISSION:– Serve the people of Utah through a network of

county and campus-based resources that provide a range of formal educational and informal enrichment activities that strengthen families, assist small businesses and improve the quality of life throughout Utah.

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They Are Not AloneUtah’s Military

• Army National Guard – 5,600• Air National Guard – 1,400• Full time employees – 1,700 (military/civilian

contractors)

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We Shall Not Forget

• Since September 11, 2001 – Over 2,000,000 Soldiers have fought in the War on Terror.

• Over 51,000 Soldiers have been wounded or killed in battle.

• Military families have shouldered the burden of our nations response.

http://www.militaryfamily.org/publications/community-toolkit /

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• The lifestyle of a Military family is unique.

• The Military is its own culture.

• Those not apart of this unique culture may find it difficult to understand.

• We each have a role in serving those who serve our country.

http://www.militaryfamily.org/feature-articles/helping-military-families-is.html

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Community Covenant

• Financial Literacy• Youth Development• Relationships • Family Life• Nutrition• Gardening

• Family Resource Management

• Emergency Prep• Food safety• Farm Management• Profitability

http://extension.usu.edu/htm/news/articleID=19213

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INFORMATION POWER POINT

• Directed toward you and the instructors.

• Understanding Military lifestyle and culture.

• The more you know, the more you can help.

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/family/res/family_res_mil_fam_curr.html

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Facilitators Guide

• Understanding the situation each Military family is in.

• This guide will help you learn the culture of the Armed Forces.

• The seven stages of the emotional cycle of deployment.

• Ways in which you can reach out and connect.

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/fcs7/fcs7199fg/fcs7199fg.PDF

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Community Toolkit

• The information in this toolkit is focused on those individuals wanting to help Military families, however, not sure where to start.

• Provides easily-accessible information and resources to support Military families.

• Also available in Spanish!!

http://www.militaryfamily.org/publications/community-toolkit/http://issuu.com/nationalmilitaryfamilyassoc/docs/communitytoolkit?viewMode=magazine&mode=

embed

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Operation Military Kids (OMK)

• Utah Operation: – Military Kids provides support to youth before, during, and

after the deployment of a loved one.

– Once a reserve force parent is mobilized the child then assumes the status of a Military kid.

– Military kids are coping with sudden changes in their lives, and their families may not be sure how to access support services of the military.

http://utah4-h.org/htm/featured-programs/4hmilitary

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4-H• Mission Statement:

– 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

• Short-term goals:– Improved academic performance– Enhanced social competencies

– Strengthened family bonds • Long-term goals:

– Increase developmental assets

– Decrease juvenile delinquency

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Army National Guard

• Family Mission Statement– “By putting families first and creating relationships

of trust, the Utah National Guard Family Programs' Office enhances the readiness and well being of military families through information, education, programs, and resources.”

– Family Readiness Group (FRG)

http://www.ut.ngb.army.mil/family/

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Family Assistance Centers (FAC)

Services available through the National Guard– Counseling Support/ Referral, Emergency Financial Requests, Red

Cross Messages, Pay/TRICARE Assistance, Legal, DEERS/ID Card Support, Family/Household Emergency Support/Family Readiness Group Support Veteran Support/Referrals.

• Over 14 locations throughout the state!

http://www.ut.ngb.army.mil/family/newweb/fac.htm#logan_

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Military OneSource• Available for all service-members and their families.

• Key in helping the military families in your communities.

• No cost, free easy-to-use resource.

• Comprehensive information on every aspect of military life including:– deployment, reunion, relationships, grief, spouse employment and education,

parenting and child care

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Military OneSource cont.

• Services are available 24 hours a day by telephone and online.

• Military OneSource offers call center and online support for consultations including: – spouse education and career opportunities, issues specific to families with a

member with special needs, and financial support and resources.

• Military OneSource also offers personal non-medical counseling services online, via telephone, or face-to-face.

• You can receive non-medical, short-term counseling, as well as assistance with financial management, taxes, career services, health and wellness, and much more.

http://www.militaryonesource.mil

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F-O-C-U-S

• FOCUS World is an interactive, online educational tool that provides instruction on:– Emotional Regulation – Goal Setting – Communication – Family Life– Stress management– Much more

http://www.focusproject.org/resourceshttp://www.sofarusa.org/downloads/SOFAR_2008_Final.pdf

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American Red Cross

• Whether their family is facing its first deployment or the next of many, the American Red Cross has developed workshops and information and support services to help you with the practical and emotional challenges.

http://www.redcross.org/find-help/military-families/deployment-services

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Social Media• Provides critical tools to help service members and families

thrive in the military lifestyle.

• Focuses on the “hot topics.”

• “Engaging with fans allows them to share their experiences with one another and with us.”

• This link explains all of the social media resources that are currently available for use.

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/ResourceGuides/ Social_Media_Guide.pdf

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Videos

• Provides an alternative form of instructing.

• Effective way of presenting a message.

• Getting around the “death by PowerPoint.”

• This link has a large variety of short video clips that you may use.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mcandfp/videos?flow=grid&view=0

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Relationship Health and Wellness

• “Maintaining happy and fulfilling relationships can be challenging even under normal conditions. When you factor in the stressors and demands of military life, you might have to work even harder to maintain the communication, cooperation and closeness that keep your relationship strong.”

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness

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Relationship Health and Wellness

• Relationship Stages– Single, dating, marriage,

family, maintaining family needs

• Relationship Challenges and Transitions– Financial stress, Deployment,

Retirement, civilian work

• Family Relocation– Holidays apart, parenting

during a move, teenage drama

• Relationship Abuse– Domestic, sexual, and teen

dating violence

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness

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Parenting• Provides detailed and complete information regarding parenting.

• Helps answer key questions with accurate advice.

• Easy to navigate, great resources, and other links for quick access.

• Wide range of topics including:– Pregnancy, nutrition, education, communication, relationship building,

trust, and much more.

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting

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Children, Youth, and Teens

• Child Care

• Infant/Toddler/Pre-school (Birth-5yrs)

• Children (6-8 yrs)

• Pre-Teens (9-12 yrs.)

• Teens (13-18 yrs.)

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/cyt

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Money Management

• Budgeting Basics– Transportation, money

management, tax planning

• Home and Family Finances– Financial planning, leasing,

renting, buying, saving money, credit cards

• Protecting Your Financial Health– Resources, civil rights, credit

record, fraud, identity theft, investing

• Military Benefits– Travel deals, understanding

military pay, personal finance

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/pfm

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Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

MISSION:• Facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for

National Guard and Reserve members.

• Recognizing outstanding employer support. • Increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies.

• Resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members.

• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA)

http://www.esgr.mil/About-ESGR/What-is-ESGR.aspxhttp://www.esgr.mil/USERRA/What-is-USERRA.aspx

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ESGR • HERO’S TO HIRED (H2H)

– Simplify the job search.

– Reduce the number of unemployed Reservists.

– H2H.jobs provides access for companies to search within the Military.

– Post job openings.

– Search for candidates and invite them to apply.

– Participate in hiring events – FREE OF CHARGE!

https://h2h.jobs

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Key Points

• You can help military families with existing materials, which means, less time taken from your busy schedule.

• Every county has military families; Utah is rich with military personnel, retired and active.

• Helping military families can be as simple as befriending them and following a link on this PowerPoint.

• The need is great. You can make a difference.

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Dedicated Individuals

• Joanne Rouche (Davis) Military Saves • Scott Williams (Cache) 4-H Support of Military

families • Peggy Marshall (Vernal) 4-H Ambassador

applicant providing services for • Carolyn Washburn/Paul Hill (Washington) how

to help kids and whole families

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Key Personnel

• Steve Daniels steve.daniels@usu.edu• Dave Francis dave.francis@usu.edu• Brian Higginbotham Brian.H@usu.edu• Captain Joseph Simmons Army National Guard

joseph.e.simmons26.mil@mail.mil

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Key Links

• http://extension.usu.edu• http://www.ut.ngb.army.mil• http://www.militaryonesource.mil• http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/fcs7/fcs719

9fg/fcs7199fg.PDF

• http://www.militaryfamily.org/feature-articles/helping-military-families-is.html

• http://www.focusproject.org/resources