JOINING COMMUNITY FORCES Maintaining an All Volunteer Force Lt Col Susanne Hiscock, NGB-J1-FP Susanne.m.hiscock.mil@mail.mil 25 February 2014

What is Joining Community Forces (JCF)? A communication initiative that focuses on grassroots solutions in support of Veterans, Military members, and Families Expands on First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden’s national-level “Joining Forces” campaign Implemented at the Community Level Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs) available to assist in the identification of resources or resource providers GOALS Strengthen state Inter-Service Family Assistance Committees (ISFACs) Foster a sustainable network of local support Facilitate governmental/non-governmental, non-profit, corporate partners and local citizen collaboration Fill service and information gaps

History & Background 2010: Presidential Study Directive 9 highlights challenges faced by veterans, Military members, and their families 2011: Presidential Report titled “Strengthening Our Military Families” is released, identifying community-level support as an evidence-based solution CJCS-IPT for Family/Community Strategic Communication is created, assigning NGB to take the lead on community-level engagement Joining Community Forces created/launched to educate, leverage, and promote existing local best practices to build community capacity PSD-9 called for the creation of an integrated, sustainable governmental outreach system for coordinating non-profit, commercial, and public efforts the effects of which would motivate shared responsibility, inspire activism, and improve the quality of military family support services collaboration. The Presidential Report outlines the success of community-level support networks in supplying military families the support needed to maintain resilience and mission readiness The IPT put NGB at the helm of the communications piece given its operational structure in all states/territories as well as its relationships with collective resources through the DoD, VA, DoL, etc. Joining Community Forces (JCF) is a communications initiative that expands on First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden’s national-level “Joining Forces” campaign by focusing attention on community-level action in support of Service members, military Families and Veterans. An information conduit and marketing vehicle, fueled by a robust strategic partnership network of national-level organizations working to facilitate community-level collaboration. (segue into next slide)

Substance Abuse Treatment Optimizing the Aggregate Impact of Military/Family/Veteran Support Services at Community Level The goal of JCF is to create and maintain a service provider network within each focus area. A service provider, whether governmental or non-governmental, will be able to enter the network in each of the areas in which they provide services. JCF’s “No Wrong Door” model allows a veteran, Military member, or family member to enter the JCF network at any time, from any location, and through any point. WHAT Behavioral Health Tricare Substance Abuse Treatment Community Behavioral Health NGO Provider VA Education Employment Across Mission Communities Within Mission Communities Financial/ Legal Homelessness Family Optimize Network Providers through Cross-Referrals: “No Wrong Door”

Execution/Service Delivery Support Services Policy/Leadership Force Multiplier Execution/Service Delivery JCF Collaboration Workgroup Joining Forces The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Federal Veterans Affairs National Public, Private, and Non-Profits Inter-Service Family Assistance Committee (ISFAC) State Intergovernmental Committees CNCS State Offices State Veterans Affairs State Public, Private, and Non-Profits Community Blueprint Community Action Teams VA Centers Local Non-Profits Community Leaders Volunteers No Wrong Door FEDERAL STATE LOCAL

JCF Statistics – Where We Are 13 States have started a JCF initiative more than 1 year ago 26 States have started a JCF initiative within the last year 14 States have an ISFAC only 26 States have or are in the process of obtaining VISTAs 13 States would like NGB to assist with finding a 3rd Party sponsor for VISTAs *Statistics extracted from JCF Engagement Strategy Survey of all State Family Program Directors.

JCF Successes South Carolina In 2011 the unemployment rate was over 16% and in two years through cooperate networking pushed it down to 3.8% this year Alaska Developed a comprehensive list of all community partners by each program manager under the five alliances (Finance, Behavioral Health, Legal, Faith and Child/Youth). The goal is to establish a community support service baseline Arkansas The Governor of Arkansas has a State program called Arkansas for Veterans (ARVETS). ARVETS is a non-profit which the Adjutant General sits as a board member North Dakota “ND Cares” has hired 5 Veterans in their outreach efforts to have a 1 on 1 conversation with the 65K state based veterans to connect them to their entitlements. In 3 years these individuals have recorded nearly 20K successful cases Arkansas Develop Veterans Pre-Screening workshop to help Veterans organize their disability compensation paper work for submission to the State Veterans Services Officer. Develop Spouse forum into a information sharing in supporting sponsor with potential “Resources to Needs”. Potential spouse and other elements of child and youth. Develop workshop forum on Professional Development delivering Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) with community partners.

What is JCF Doing Now? JCF Social Media Identifying state-level JCF events for engagement with the White House The White House has committed to assisting NGB in our JCF strategic communication Planning CNGB hosted NGB-wide JCF/Volunteer Conference July 2014 Member of multiple Joint Collaboration Groups Working with the American Legion Auxiliary to become sponsor of JCF Volunteer In Service To America (VISTA) at state-level. Developing an MOU with Dept of Agriculture’s Division of Youth and 4H and their Division of Family and Consumer Sciences Access to local extension office training opportunities/research institutes Access to 4H outreach resources Holding monthly teleconferences with State Family Program Director Best practice and community capacity building initiative sharing JCF Social Media Facebook / Website / Mobile Site

Contacts Mr. Anthony Wickham, Director, Family Programs anthony.a.wickham.civ@mail.mil, 703-607-0158 Lt Col Susanne Hiscock, Family Readiness Chief Susanne.m.hiscock.mil@mail.mil, 703-607-5416 Ms. Darla Siegel, Outreach Program Manager darla.l.siegel.civ@mail.mil, 703-607-5491

Joining Community Forces Blue Print Model for State/Community JCF Network Leadership/Pacesetters Support Networks Policy/Leadership State Coalition – Inter-Service Family Assistance Committee (ISFAC) Governor JCF Stakeholders CNCS Volunteer Force VISTA’s AmeriCorps VetCorps National Guard Volunteers Council of Governments Foundations Community Blue Print Services GAPS Federal & State State & Local Coalition Partners Governor Civic Outreach Force Multiplier Examples of JCF Stakeholders State Board of Education Association of Regional School Superintendents Community College Board Professional Psychology College Networks Health & Disability Advocates Joining Forces Veterans Affairs (Federal and State) Public, Private and Not for Profit Organizations Veteran Service Organizations Red Cross Community Government State Government Leaders Governor’s Veterans JTF State Legislature No Wrong Door Execution JCF Service Delivery Goal: “To mobilize more communities to meet the needs, address the challenges, and tap the potential of military families now, when our nation is at war, and throughout their lives.” Four priority focus areas Education Military children, spouses and veterans (includes jobs) Employment Connecting veterans, military and spouses to 21st century career opportunities Wellness Health, wellness of military families & supporting at-risk veterans families Public Engagement Raising awareness and building enduring public will Year-long campaign with aggressive time-line of events FLOTUS and Dr. Biden will officially launch a Spring Campaign at National Event Launch with WH event followed by 2-day campaign to 4-6 communities (2 Major – 2 Rural – 1 Veteran area – 1 military installation Installation events will emphasize public-private partnerships & community involvement Local leaders should be attendees (community leaders, mayors, non-profit heads, etc) Each area features specific deliverables Broken down into governmental & non-governmental Both specified and implied tasks for DoD, NGB, National Non-profit leads (CNCS, POL and CCBP) Local Community Community Community and State Teams City Leaders County Leaders Township Leaders Support Services for Veterans, Military and Family Members: Employment, Education and Wellness