DCS / Family ProgramsOverview

CPT Jackie Stenger

Vision for Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

“Your Fort Minnesota!”

MG Larry ShellitoThe Adjutant General

of Minnesota

Branch ChiefLTC Barb O’ReillyXO

MAJ Eduardo Suarez

NCOICMSG Warren Anthony

Family Programs Advocacy/Program Development

Community Outreach

OperationsOIC: CPT Stenger

CPT Teresa BoboOIC: CPT Ben Schmitz

Asst Opns NCO: SSG Wagner

MIRT NCO: SGT DiGicomo

YR Civ Mr. Baldwin

YR Civ Mr. Kulzer

BudgetSSG Mark Jancze

SPC Cassie McCane

OC Melanie Nelson

Contracting

PAO

OMKSarah Stille

MFLC

MTAC

TAA

Mental Health Dir.

Mary Sullivan

Geraldine Longfellow

John Stepan

Dr.Boswell

Jim SullivanMike Farren

Jan Fournier

SGT Amy Smith

ESGRFAC Supervisor

FRA

FPARae Schwartz

Chris Campbell

Allan JorgensenSupply SGT

SGT Travis Zandlo (Dep)

Karen Seeger

Darlene Wetterstrom

YR Civ Mr. BehrKarly Vogel

MOS

Laura Poppen

Youth Programs

NCOIC 2LT Norton

Staff

YR Civ Ms. Martinez

SPC Jean Clancy

DCS Assistant

DCS Structure

Dir. Of Psych Health

DCS Mission

To empower leaders, service members and families by

providing relevant training, services, and resources

throughout the deployment cycle

5

DCS Key Events Timeline

Pre-Deployment Training (Phase 1) During Deployment Training (Phase 2) Post-Deployment Training (Phase 3)

M-60 D+30 D+90DEMOBD-60

Initial Reintegration Training

Family Reintegration Academy

30 Day/MIRT Training

Family Preparation Academy

Advanced FRG/FAC Training

Family Readiness Planning Conference

Bi-Annually MOB Qrtly

60 Day Training

90 Day Training

D+60 D+365

1 Year Event

3 Phases ofContinuous Support

PH1: Family Readiness Planning Conference (Bi-Annually)

• Workshops– Family Readiness Group Basics– Funds and Fundraising (Commanders liability)– Communications (Unit-Family)– Advanced FRG Training

• Workgroups– Develop Family Readiness SOP– Establish plan to support unit Families– Establish robust communication plan

Conducted prior to the unit deploying. Service Members are in IDT Status and volunteers are issued ITA’s by DCS. The audience is Commanders, 1SG’s, Rear

Det and Volunteer FRG Leaders. The Conference provides a training and workshop environment to develop the unit Family Readiness Plan and gain Commanders

approval.

PH1: Family Preparation Academy (M-60)

• Workshops Offered:– Resource Portals: Military One Source and FAC– Establish a plan to pay off your debt– Personal Family Finance: Paying bills, adjusting to different pay, reading your LES– Putting you house in order: Knowing your rights, power of attorney (JAG), interest

rates, auto leases, preparing for deployment– Staying Connected for couples– Tips for Extended Family– Basic Finance– Here we go Again– Building Resiliency in children and teens during deployment– Tricare

A one day program to empower and resource service members and their spouses, parents, significant others and children, to address the concerns of

and prepare for deployment.

PH2: Family Reintegration Academy (D-60)

• Requirements:– Battlemind for spouses– Communication

• Additional Workshops Offered:– Who are you and what did you do with my spouse? – Extended Family – Tricare/Tricare Dental– Preparing children for the transition home

This one day event, prior to the units return is designed to help families understand the challenges of reconnecting with their military service members. The event is

conducted in a “round robin” format.

PH3: Initial Reintegration Training

• Key Tasks– Enroll every service member in the Veterans Administration (1010EZ)– Inform service member of their Veterans Benefits– Provide soldiers with TAG’s “10 Commandments of Reintegration” wallet card.

• Briefings– Reintegration Experience (Combat Veteran)– Law Enforcement (MN State Patrol)

• Workshops– CVSO/MN DVA/State Benefits Rep– DEED/ESGR– Taxes/MN Thank A Soldier– VA Vet Center / SARC / Chaplain

Conducted at Demobilization site immediately upon return to United States. Service Members are connected to service providers who can assist them in overcoming the challenges of reintegration through briefings and a workshop

format.

PH3: 30 Day Reintegration Training

• Requirements:– Battlemind– Communication workshop for Married couples

• Additional Workshops Offered:– Marriage After Deployment– Parenting After Deployment– Single Service Members– From Me to We– Coping Then and Now– Education Benefits– Get the Job Part I-Resume

This one day event for military families occurs approximately 30 days after the deployment. Attendees are empowered with information, services and

resources to help Service Members and their families become stronger.

PH3: 60 Day Reintegration Training

• Requirements:

– Overcoming Anger and Anger related feelings– Finding Purpose and Meaning After Deployment– State Highway Patrol Briefing (emphasis on substance abuse)– Parenting and Children’s workshop– Improving Interview Skills– Financial Planning

This one day event for military families occurs approximately 60 days after the deployment. Attendees are empowered with information, services and

resources to help Service Members and their families become stronger.

PH3: 90 Day Reintegration

• MUTA-6 to complete Post-Deployment Health Risk Assessment (PDHRA), TB Tine Test, Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) and other administrative and logistical activities required by the chain of command.

• The units next higher HQ is responsible to plan and execute this reconstitution event at Camp Ripley.

• The unit is responsible for planning and executing this event and will resource all administrative and logistic activities, with the exception of J1 medical.

• Medical resources must be requested in writing to JFMN-J1-AMR at least 120 days in advance.

PH3: 1 Year Reintegration

• Conducted approximately 1 year after REFAD. This is event is conducted in a 4 hour period for up to 150 SMs. Family members are encouraged to attend. (No ITAs or travel are available for families)

• The units next higher HQ is responsible to ensure this event is completed for all soldiers that deployed that are currently in the unit.

• Soldiers participating will be given a short survey focusing on mental and physical welleness, employment and education. All soldiers will review their survey with a VA or LLS counselor.

• Additional partners and resources will be made available, VA Benefits, Tricare, Lutheran Social Services, Chaplain, Transition Assistance Advisor, Dept of Employment and Economic Development, ESGR, MNSCU and J1 Education.

Family Program Intent

To support all military members and Families by providing continuous training, resources and services regardless of unit of service affiliation.

Family Program End State

To create resiliency and readiness in Families and to empower them to be able to meet the challenges faced by deployment and to grow through their experiences.

Family Program Intent

FORT MINNESOTA!

INTEGRATED SUPPORT

Providers & Resources

Training

Readiness & Assistance

Assistance Vs. ReadinessAssistance• Network of Professional

Service providers and PVOs

• High Level of experience and knowledge

• Help family members with practical needs

• Outreach is focused on Families and Community

Readiness• Professional organization

of volunteers• Work for unit CDRs

• Intimate knowledge of families within their scope

• Most likely to identify needs

• Outreach focused on Families

Family Programs

Office

Youth Programs (Laura)

OMK (Sarah)

Marshall FAC

(Jeff / Steve)

Duluth FAC (Shawn)

Rosemount (Vern /

Christina)

Brooklyn Park (Deb /

Nina)

Little Falls (Yvonne, Monique)

Mankato (Pat)

Stillwater (Jill)

Detroit Lakes / Fergus

Falls (TBF)

Bemidji (TBF)

FAC Supervisor

(Mike)

Family Assistance Structure

MFLCMTAC

TAA

Karen SeegerGeraldine Longfellow

John Stepan

Allan Jorgensen

Darlene Wetterstrom

Mary Sullivan

Dir. Of Psych Health

Family Programs

Office

BCT FRSA (Carolyn)

2-136 FRSA (Dani)

2-135 FRSA (Janet)

1-94 FRSA (Cristy)

1-194 FRSA (Theresa)

34th ID FRSA (Lynda)

1-151 FRSA (Carmen)

34th CAB FRSA (Lil)

204th FRSA (Teresa)

FRA (Jan Fournier)

Wing Family Programs (Jill,

Jen)

Family Readiness Structure

Our Roles (1 of 3)• Director

– Oversees the operation of all functional areas within Family Programs

– Acquires and Implements the Development of new aspects in Family Programs

• Family Program Assistant– Manage Program Communications– POC for Family Program Office– Assists in Program Development– Facilitate Directives and gather information from the field when

requested

Our Roles (2 of 3)• Family Readiness Assistant (FRA)

– Develop Curriculum and deliver training to Family Readiness Group Leaders

– Run Family Readiness Planning Conference– Develop Volunteer recognition programs

• Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA)– Support Family Readiness Group (FRG) Leaders– Publicize training availability to volunteers– Assist FRG in developing communications from

command

Our Roles (3 of 3)• Family Assistance Center Supervisor

– Standardize/document FAC operations– Develop Marketing and Awareness of FAC services– Advocate for FAC needs– Ensure compliance with contract terms

• FAC Specialists– Subject Matter expert on available resources– Extensive relationship building in Area of

Responsibility– THE critical resource for Family Assistance in DCS

Family Assistance Centers

• Information/referral source• TRICARE assistance• DEERS/ID Card information• Pay and legal assistance• Community support• Emergency Assistance coordinator

State Youth Program

At Reintegration Events:• Childcare for 0-4 years• Children’s Programming for 5-18 years• Military 101 for 3 and up• Coping skills for deployment and post deployment

provided by Military Family Life Consultants (MFLC)• Crafts, games, youth activities provided by Operation

Military Kids (OMK)

State Youth Camps

Operation Military Kids:• Boots On Camp(s), TBD• Boots Off Camp(s), TBD• Teen Camp, Pending

Other sponsored camps:• Military Kids Camp, 13-19 June at

Camp St. Croix, WI• MN NG Youth and Teen Camp,

18-24 July at Camp Ripley, MN• Operation Purple Camps

– McGregor, MN 1-6 August– Camp St. Croix, WI 4-10 July

Military Family Life Consultants

• Provide short term, solution focused therapy and referral

• Consult with service members and military families regarding deployment issues

• Offer educational information and presentations at BTYR events

• Open to all branches of service

mflc.mn@ng.army.mil

•Program began in May of 2005

•Memorandum of Agreement between National Guard Bureau and Department of VA. Minnesota has two TAAs.

•Provide information and assistance to National Guard members and their families in receiving that they have earned and deserve.

•Primarily serve National Guard, but also provides services to members in all of the reserve components

Transition Assistance Advisors

Strong Bonds

• Marriage Enrichment Workshop• Put on by Chaplains

www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org

www.btyr.org