Support for Military Families

Members of the military and their families face very specific and difficult issues. These include the family pressures of preparing for deployment; experiencing separation and return; the uncertainties caused by regular relocation; feelings over potential and actual grief and loss; and the need to obtain military-specific benefits. And of course, they also face the same needs as anyone else in the community.

Family centers are located on most military bases to provide information and referral, life skills education, crisis assistance, advocacy and support services to military personnel and their families.

Each branch of the U.S. military has family centers but they are all known by slightly different names:

Army Community Service Centers (ACS) (Note 'service locator search' midway down right hand sidebar).
Navy Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC).
Air Force Family Support Centers (FSC).
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS).

Military Homefront is the official web site for all quality of life information and services available from the Department of Defense to help military personnel and their families.

Military OneSource is a 24-hour toll free information and referral service available worldwide to active duty, Reserve, and National Guard military personnel and their families, as well as deployed civilians and their families. This service can also provide some free counseling sessions on particular issues.

Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline (1-800-984-8523) is a new service operating 24/7:

to provide Soldiers wounded and injured on active duty with a resource to obtain outpatient- related assistance regarding issues they have not been able to resolve through their own chain of command or medical treatment facility (MTF).

To capture timely and accurate information from Soldiers and their families on the quality of outpatient care in order to ensure prompt and thorough response to concerns and to increase the reality and perception of Soldiers receiving timely, quality care.

From the community-based I&R perspective, AIRS has produced Military Deployments and War: A guide to supporting individuals, families and communities

Other resources include:

www.americasupportyou.mil (includes information about services available from nonprofit agencies for military community)
www.defendamerica.mil (news about frontline troops)
www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home (search engine for locating U.S. military bases)
www.dod.mil/mapsite (information on all aspects of relocation, including money management and job searching)
www.dodea.edu (information about education issues and opportunities from the Department of Defense)
www.firstgov.gov (main web site for U.S. Government)
www.fns.usda.gov/wic (information about national support program for women, infants and children)
www.lifelines.navy.mil/(assistance for sailors, marines and their families provided by LIFELines)
www.marineparents.com (information for parents of marines)
www.militarylifestyle.com (wide variety of information helpful to the military community)
www.milspouse.org (information on employment, education and relocation for military spouses)
www.naccrra.org/militaryprograms (National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies provides assistance in locating child care)
www.npc.navy.mil/channels (information on programs provided by Navy Personnel Command)
www.redcross.org (wide variety of emergency services and support provided by the American Red Cross)
www.mytricare.com (information about TRICARE, the military health system)
www.unmetneeds.com (Veterans of Foreign Wars operates Unmet Needs Program to provide direct support to military families in difficult circumstances)
www.usmc.mil (U.S. Marine Corps)
www.va.gov (information about programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs)
www.zerotothree.org (parenting information and resources with special section for military families)

Resources for Canadian military personnel and their families

The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency provides overall coordination of morale and welfare programs, services, activities and support for members and of Canadian military and their families.

Canadian Military Family Resource Centres help families of Canadian Forces members manage the stresses associated with the unique characteristics of the military lifestyle and enhance the quality of life in Canadian Forces communities by supporting personal, family and community development. Family centres are located on most military bases to provide information and referral, life skills education, crisis assistance, advocacy and support services to military personnel and their families.

The Mission Information Line (MIL) (1-800-866-4546) is a bilingual telephone service for families of Canadian military personnel serving in operations outside Canada. The toll-free, 24-hour service features detailed reports about Canadian Forces missions and operations from around the world and provides the kind of assurance and support family members depend on. During business hours, callers can speak directly to MIL staff for additional information or referral to other resources. The Mission Information Line should not be considered a substitute for Family Resource Centres or Unit Rear Parties, but rather a complement to their services.

Veterans Affairs Canada provides health and financial support for Canada veterans. The Centre for the Support of Injured and Retired Members and their Families is a joint effort of the Department of National Defence (DND) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to provide information and services to injured and retired military members and their families.

Other resources include:

www.osiss.ca (peer and family-based support for those suffering from operational stress injuries)
www.peacekeeper.ca (unofficial site dedicated to highlighting the current and past achievements of the Canadian Armed Forces)