Oregon National Guard Introduces New Initiatives for Military Families::

In order to provide the best possible care for all military service members’ families, Family Programs has been given additional funding in FY 08 to provide several new initiatives.

New staff members available to assist military members and their families are a Military Family Life Consultant, a Child and Youth Consultant, a Military OneSource Consultant, a Youth Program Specialist and a Red Cross Liaison. These individuals collectively make up the Joint Family Support Assistance Program. The Military Family Life Consultant and Child and Youth Consultant are both licensed counselors available to provide counseling to individuals, couples, families and groups. The counseling is non-medical; short term; situational; and based on problem solving and issue resolution. The Military OneSource Consultant will catalog services and build partnerships in Oregon as well as provide informational briefings to military members and their families.

Operation: Military Kids is a program run through OSU Extension 4-H for military children and youth. The program consists of: Ready, Set, Go! training; Mobile Tech Lab; Hero Packs; Speak Out for Military Kids training; Babysitter training and other specially designed programs.

Oregon will host Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) training to educators and support staff on the needs of military children. Many Oregon schools and staff are not aware of the numbers of military children in their schools or their dealing with deployment and reintegration and subsequent effects.

Two full time Family Readiness Support Assistants have been hired to support the 41st BCT. Donna Herr and Carrie Fox will provide care to military families of the 41st BCT during all phases of deployment. You can reach Donna at 503-557-6052. You can reach Carrie at 503-932-3264.

The new personnel and programs will enhance the current Family Programs available to military families.

You can reach the Military Family Life Consultant, Terri Chapman at 503-856-6688. You can reach the Military OneSource Consultant, Mandy Martin at 971-219-9114. You can reach Alexis DeLeon at 785-313-3264. If you have any questions about this information or personnel, please call the State Family Program Director, Michelle Kochosky at 503-584-2245.

Links ::

Military Homefront :
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

MyState :
http://www.mystate.mhf.dod.mil

Career Transition Assistance Program :
http://www.orng-vet.org/ctap/ctap_home.html

Operation: Military Kids :
http://www.operationmilitarykids.org

National Guard Family Programs
http://www.guardfamily.org