uso warrior and family care presented by: donald leingang executive director, uso northwest

USO Warrior and Family Care

Presented By: Donald LeingangExecutive Director, USO Northwest

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Newly integrated division focuses on supporting and comforting, connecting and entertaining for those service members and their families that need us most.

This new structure provides a long-term organizational framework that is better aligned with the way we do business now and in the future, given the USO’s increasing focus on easing troops’ reintegration into the family and community as they begin to return home in increasing numbers.

USO of NC established Troops and Family Programs Office to reinforce USO WFC Division and to expand services/programs beyond WII and in more geographical locations in North Carolina.

The New USO Warrior and Family Care Division


Those Who Need Us Most

Recognizing that we have the most married military since the Civil War, the USO emphasizes support for the military family.


Deployed/Active

Duty Troops

Families of

Deployed/Active Duty Troops

WII, their Families

and Caregive

rs

Families of the Fallen

• USO proudly serves Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves and their families And , in North Carolina , Military Retirees

Strategy Development


Ways Means Theory of Change

Mission

- Supporting & Comforting

- Connecting - Entertaining

• Ride2Recovery• Caregivers Conferences• Stronger Families• Camps & Retreats• USO2GO• Holiday Boxes

We say “Thank you” on behalf of all Americans. This thank you, in the form of valued programs & services helps our troops and their families feel appreciated for their service to our country.

Lift Spirits of our troops and their families

** Refine strategy (ways and means) based on evaluation of performance measures (outputs and outcomes)

• Hire Heroes USA Workshops

• Career Opportunity Days• Team Red White & Blue• United Through Reading’s

Military Program• Pro vs. GI Joe• MEGS

Fill Vital Gaps within the Military Community and

Services

Programs For Active Duty and Military

Families



Families

Supporting & Comforting

Sesame WorkshopThe USO has partnered with Sesame Workshop since 2008 in an effort to provide resources that help to build resilience in pre-school aged children. Topics range from military specific, like deployments and changes, to losing a loved one and divorce.

Available Resources: When Families Grieve DVD Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce DVD

2012 Program Impact: 97.4% said they were satisfied 95% Would rate program as valuable

In Fall 2013 Sesame will launch the general resiliency Little Children, Big Challenges. This project will provide families with tools that cut across generations and groups to help develop resiliency skills when facing everyday challenges and transitions.


USO Holiday Boxes


USO Holiday Boxes bring a true touch of home to troops in remote locations and are sent on four occasions during the year to celebrate Super Bowl/Valentine’s day, Summer Holidays, Halloween/Thanksgiving and Winter (to include Christmas & Hanukkah).

Program Availability Holiday-season specific and include costumes, snacks, movies, decorations, etc

to bring cheer Each box is intended to support around 50 people Goal: 285 in 2013

2012 Program Impact: 280 boxes distributed to 211 locations 100% of troops felt support upon receiving the boxes 90% of troops felt the items were excellent

North Carolina Unique Programs and Services


USO of NC mirrors many of the national USO programs but provides:

• Resiliency Programs • Reading and Study Skill Seminars• Wellness Camps• Future Satellite Centers on Selected College Campuses

• Transition Assistance – beyond the WII programs and to the entire force in multiple locations across the state

• Personal Financial Seminars (FY2014)

• Deployment and Homecoming Support

• Professional and College Sporting Events

• Three Airport Centers, Two Base-support Centers, and Mobile Center

• Smiles Over Miles and other supportive porgrams

Programs For Wounded, Ill and Injured

Troops, Their Families and Caregivers, as well as Families

Of The Fallen

Supporting & Comforting


Ongoing Center Support for WII/FF


USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl

Fort Belvoir Warrior and Family Support Center

WFC Programs delivered in center, not to mention ongoing fabulous support throughout DC Metro for WII by USO Metro DC

Families of the Fallen Support at Dover and all three USO-NC Airport Centers

Honors Support Teams at RDU, Charlotte and Fayetteville Airports

Funding Requests


Outing RequestOuting requests assist USO Centers while supporting the local warrior and caregiver community. Typical requests cover expenses related to tickets, community events,

parties, sports programs, couples retreats, etc.As shown in the picture to the left, USO Hawaii used

requested funds to support combat Wounded Warriors and their families in participating in the 3rd Annual Pumpkin

Carving Festival by providing the pumpkin carving kit for 150 families.

USO Day Rooms/Health Welfare SupportSupport Military Medical Treatment Facilities, Honor

Guards, CASF and MEDEVAC locations, Warrior Transition Units, and Wounded Warrior Regiments. Funds support the purchase of gaming equipment, furniture, and lounge type

equipment. USO Tampa Bay

Funding Requests


Emergency Funding RequestFor immediate medical and emergency needs related to hotel and travel accommodations for wounded, ill, and injured service member’s and their families, as well as Families of the Fallen.

Requests usually made within 72 hours.


Warrior Care Packs and R&R DuffelsThe USO provides Warrior Care Packs to wounded, ill or injured troops around the world during medical evacuations from the battlefield. Often during these evacuations troops uniforms are destroyed and these packs provide basic necessities during their transition period.

Warrior Care Pack: The backpack contains a short sleeve shirt, shorts, underwear, socks, shower shoes, fleece blanket, hygiene kit, sports bra (female kits only). Other items upon request: sweatshirt, tear-away pant, winter hats, gloves, mittens

The R&R Duffels are for troops as they fly back from Europe or Afghanistan to stateside.

R&R Duffels: The large duffel bag contains a pillow, pillowcase, XL twin sheets, fleece blanket, towel, shower shoes, hygiene kit, and shorts.

Other Items: fleece hat, gloves, mittens, winter coat, rain jacket, baseball cap

Program Availability: SWA, Europe, and select Stateside Centers received 1,000 Warrior Care Packs at the

end of 2012 Currently working on distribution plan for 2013 SWA Centers are helping to identify smaller locations that need these items


USO Caregivers ConferenceUSO Caregivers Conferences are events that provide caregivers a chance to focus on themselves and their own emotions to help build personal resiliency. The event connects caregivers of wounded, ill and injured service men and women with experts and those who share similar experiences. It gives them the opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment and learn about resources and programs available to them.

Locations have included: Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg, San Antonio, and Camp PendletonProgram focuses on practical skills for improving:

Communicating With Your Loved One After Injury Caregiver’s Resources: VA Benefits, Education, Employment Taking Care of You! Support for Kids of Injured Heroes Resiliency and Burnout: How To Take Care of Yourself Confidence Boosting and Laughter: Learning to Stay Optimistic During a Difficult

Time

Program Outcomes100% of San Antonio Participants would attend again90% of Camp Pendleton Participants would attend again

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)


USO partners with TAPS to provide Survivor Seminars and Good Grief Camps as well as Kids Camp Outs. These camps and seminars provide support for families of the fallen by teaching family members about grief and loss and understanding how they can best cope and find comfort.

Program focuses on: Providing tools and information for healing Providing a comforting community Teaching children ways to communicate and cope with loss

2012 Program Impact – 6 Seminar and Good Grief Camps held at 6 different locations

“I had such a nice time with all of you this weekend. It's the first time I felt like I fit in somewhere since my husband’s passing. Looking forward to many more events with my new TAPS family.”

In 2013 the USO will partner with TAPS to support 6 Survivor Seminars and Good Grief Camps as well as 4 Kids Camp Outs. The USO will also support TAPS and the Families of the Fallen by providing 1,000 TAPS Survivor Resource Kits for survivors who have lost a loved one.

Stronger Families Oxygen Seminars


Stronger Families partners with the USO to provide one or two-day workshops for military couples to help strengthen their relationship. Coaches work with groups of approximately 10-15 couples who are facing challenges in their relationships as a result of wounds (both visible and invisible), injury or illness. Expanding to AD in 2013.

Program focuses on practical skills for improving: Communication Resolving conflict Rekindling romance and finding new hope

2012 Program Impact – 12 Seminars held at 8 different locations 100% of all couples said that they would use the information they obtained to

help make their relationship more resilient, and that it would help them in their reintegration process

100% of the couples said they would recommend the program to others

In 2013 the USO will partner with Stronger Families to provide 20 Wounded, Ill, and Injured Seminars, 5 Active Duty Seminars, 5 Train the Trainer Seminars, and 30 Chaplain Led Seminars

With You All The Way Tour and Program


As a stand-up comedian for kids, Trevor Romain has been on several USO tours to entertain military children. He has created an array of kits designed to support military children such as dealing with deployment, reintegration, visible and invisible wounds, and loss of a loved one.

Available Resources: Deployment Kits Taking Care of You Kits Memory Boxes With You All the Way Tour that provides Empowerment Packs

2012 Program Impact: 99.8% of attendees were satisfied 96% saw value in the program

Trevor’s upcoming tour locations include: Twenty-nine Palms (April 8-12), Fort Gordon (May 6-10), Whidbey Island (May 13-17), and Fort Benning (September 16-20).



Families

Connecting Entertaining


Collaborate with Pro vs. GI Joe to provide deployed service members an opportunity to go head-to-head in a video game competition against their favorite professional athletes, celebrities or entertainers at various events and venues.

Reach: 105 Events since 2008 Goals: 20 Events at various locations in 2013

Pro vs. GI Joe


The USO in collaboration with United Through Reading® to host its nationally recognized program at select USO Centers Worldwide. Whether troops are stationed at a forward operating base in Afghanistan or deploying overseas, they can visit their participating USO Center to read a story to a special child in their life. This is all captured on video and the USO mails this priceless DVD and book home. Children can watch and listen to their parent anytime.

Reach: 43,025 readings in 2012 Goals: 45,000 recordings hosted at 75 USO locations in 2013

United Through Reading

Field Program Support


Field Program Support provides financial support to USO Centers around the world so they can offer additional programming to support their local military community as needed.• On April 14, 2013, Operation That’s My Dress took place at Fort Hood. The event

provided dresses, make up, purses, jewelry and shoes for the daughters of Fort Hood to help them prepare for prom season.

Programs For Wounded, Ill and Injured Troops, Their Families and Caregivers,

as well as Families Of The Fallen

Connecting Entertaining


USO/Hire Heroes USA


Hire Heroes USA offers transition assistance, job search assistance, and job placement services to those who have honorably served in the US military – and to their spouses – in order to reduce veteran unemployment.

USO and HHUSA partner to provide the opportunities to transitioning service members, their spouses and caregivers (current focus on WII, piloting in 2013 for transitioning general active duty [AD] population)

Transition Workshop Resume writing Interview skills/mock interviews with employers Strategic planning for employment Goal setting

Career Opportunity Day Networking with various employers Introductory interviews with hiring managers/recruiters

Increased schedule for 2013: 73 Transition Workshops

67 WII 6 AD

31 Career Opportunity Days 25 WII 6 AD


Transition Workshop Outcomes – Conducted 25 Transition Workshops in 8 different locations

95% participants would rate instructor’s subject matter knowledge as excellent 97% participants would strongly recommend to fellow service members 92% participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were more confident in their ability

to effectively represent themselves in a job interview

Career Opportunity Day Outcomes – Hosted 9 Career Opportunity Days in 7 different locations

Service Members 90% participants rated their overall experience as very satisfied or satisfied 98% of participants would recommend the COD to others 93% learned new information that would help in career search

Employers 87% would recommend the COD to other employers

USO/Hire Heroes USAImpact 2012


Operation JumpStart is a two-day workshop that offers WII, spouses and caregivers the opportunity to learn whether or not starting a business is right for them. The workshop help participants identify if their business idea is feasible and how to take the next step forward on the entrepreneurial journey.

Participant Benefits

Create a Feasibility Analysis deliverable that serves as the basis for future business planning efforts and assist in developing an “actionable” plan for subsequent efforts focused on launching a new venture.

Operation JumpStart will conduct 11 two-day workshops in 2013 at many different locations to include Balboa Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, JB Lewis-McChord, Camp Lejeune, Kaneohe Bay/Schofield Barracks, Twentynine Palms, Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and Fort Belvoir.

Syracuse University Institute For Veterans and Military Families:

Operation JumpStart

Team Red, White and Blue


Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB) enriches the lives of America’s combat veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

Program Focuses On: Providing the attendees with the very best in instruction, coaching, and equipment Providing the attendees with a sense of community and accomplishment

2013 Schedule: Team RWB Yoga Camp in September at Chicago, IL. This camp will support a

total of 30 WII. Team RWB Trail Running Camp in November at Rock Spring, TX. The camp will

be led by Liza Howard, professional endurance athlete and winner of ultra-marathons. A team of professionals will provide expert coaching to 75 veterans and service members on the sport of trail running.

Program Testimonials:

“The sense that others understood my eccentricities for what they were and where they came from”.

Better understanding and new passion to try new things that sounded over the top prior to the camp”.

Questions?


uso warrior and family care presented by: donald leingang executive director, uso northwest

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