Military Family Readiness Judith Ward Dekle, LCSW Office of Family Policy, Children & Youth, Special Needs

Military Family Readiness Definition The state of being prepared to effectively navigate the challenges of daily living experienced in the unique context of military service. Ready individuals and families are: Knowledgeable about the potential challenges they may face Equipped with the skills to competently function in the face of such challenges Aware of the supportive resources available to them Make use of the skills and supports in managing such challenges Includes: Mobility and financial readiness Mobilization and deployment readiness Personal and family life readiness From DoDI 1342.22, July 3, 2012

Family Readiness System The Family Readiness System is the network of programs, services, people and agencies, and the collaboration among them, that promotes the readiness and quality of life of service members and their families. The services available through the FRS can help military families develop new skills and tackle life’s challenges — in every stage of military life. DoDI 1342.22, Military Family Readiness, 12 July, 2012

Family Readiness System Access Points Multiple Access Points within DoD Military and Family Support Centers Reserve Component Family Programs Joint Family Support Assistance Program Military OneSource Military Family Life Counselors Medical Command Child and Youth Programs Fully integrated network Seamless Access There is NO wrong door!

Programs and Services We cannot do it alone…our communities can help! Deployment assistance Domestic abuse prevention and response services Relocation assistance Child abuse prevention and response services Personal financial management Exceptional family member program support Spouse education and career services Non-medical individual and family counseling Personal family life education Information and referral Emergency family assistance Transition Assistance We cannot do it alone…our communities can help!

Community Capacity Building Goal of community capacity building is to increase the ability of people to take care of each other and take care of their community. Requires actions that show that there is a good sense of shared responsibility and “collective competence” meaning that together good things can happen.

Community Capacity grows because of formal and informal relationships Collective Competence Shared Responsibility Desired Results [GRAPHIC PLACEHOLDER FOR FBT TO DEVELOP---TITLE AT FIRST SENTENCE . LEFT AT SECOND SENTENCE. TOP LEFT AT THIRD. BOTTOM LEFT AT FOURTH. TOWER OF PEOPLE AT FIFTH. RIGHT IMAGE AT SIXTH. Let’s look at how community capacity increases because of relationships. Many people care about your community and feel a sense of responsibility for taking care of it -- and the other people in it. Some of those people already work in formal agencies -- and most people are connected to others in informal ways. Shared responsibility grows as people interact and talk with others about the issues in their community. When people’s feelings lead to action, they demonstrate collective competence. This increases community capacity AND the chances of reaching their desired results.

Support Tools Community Capacity Building Learning Modules Individual Community Readiness Inventory DoD Asset Mapping Platform Family Readiness System DoDI Toolkits

Community Capacity Building Learning Modules Catalyst for military/civilian collaboration Online, interactive and on Military OneSource These modules open to public Resource documents to accompany training Deployment expected early 2015

Community Capacity Building Learning Modules Introduction Community Action and Change Becoming a Community Capacity Building Organization Results-Focused Planning Community Assessment Strengthening Formal Systems through Collaboration Mobilizing Informal Systems Engaging Military Leaders Monitoring Results and Activities Sustaining Desired Results

Individual Community Readiness Inventory - ICRI Participants: Service members and spouses Assists military leadership, management and staff identify individual, family and community strengths and needs of Service members and spouses About 15 minutes to complete Deployment expected summer 2015

States or installations can be selected here States or installations can be selected here. States have sectioned zip codes into regions to ensure no identification can be made. Inventory is completely anonymous.

Inclusion of families with special needs

Users have the ability to print/email their results and are given choices of resources to seek assistance for areas in which they need support or additional information.

The next few slides demonstrate the administrative side of the application. From here administrators can create reports with specific criteria to meet their need.

Results will not show if there are 5 or less respondents

Additional options include zip code and installation

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DoD Mapping Platform CAC enabled Layers to reflect Accurate information regarding location and availability of programs Resources and services based upon the location of Service member and family member population https://rsgisias.crrel.usace.army.mil/disdicm2/disdi.cm27.map?map=disdi_fs

Family Readiness System DoDI Toolkits Public Affairs Leaders Internal Service Providers External Service Providers Located on Military OneSource and include Policy Fact Sheet Sample Article Sample Advertisement Social Media Tactics

Federal and State Collaboration: USA 4 Military Families Key Issues for 2015 Active Issues: Facilitate military spouse licensure portability Facilitate licensure and academic credit for military education, training and experience Allow earned priority Medicaid waivers Establish Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs) Enforce DoD lending regulation Comport rules on disposition of remains Ensure deployment does not determine custody Identifier for military children in Ed data systems Increase access to quality, affordable childcare Under Development: Allow private sector employers to offer hiring preference to veterans Employment protections during state activation Support for caregivers of disabled veterans Support state-wide MoUs for child welfare Licensing agreement for distance education Goal: Provide DoD an opportunity to participate in state-level discussions on issues affecting service members and their families. Focus is on ‘Key (state-level) Issues’ ….reviewed annually Purpose: To educate state policymakers/leaders Providing ‘best practice’ language and arranging testimony What we don’t do: Lobby – no ‘grass roots’ campaigning for specific pieces of legislation The “USA 4 Military Families Initiative” is worked through our DoD-State Liaison Office Every year they take a slate of key issues affecting Service members and their families to primarily state legislatures They educate policymakers and leaders on the issues and assist them by providing best practice language and testimony, and they are careful not to lobby In 2013 and 2014 they worked 12 of the 13 issues listed on the right. As you can see, they work a variety of issues impacting Service members and their families while serving and then as they transition out of the Military Services. The common aspect to these initiatives is that they are attempting to eliminate barriers and “level the playing field” for military members and families. http://www.usa4militaryfamilies.dod.mil

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