Posts Tagged Joint Family Readiness Conference
Let Parenting Guilt Go, Speaker Advises
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 8, 2009
Krystal Shiver, a relationship manager for Military OneSource, teaches a class on military parenting during the DoD Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 2, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson
By Elaine Wilson
Sept. 8, 2009
A speaker at the Joint Family Readiness Conference opened her session with a confession: She had missed her son’s first day of school. She felt bad about it, she admitted, although she knew it was important to attend the conference.
I can definitely relate. As a parent of three, I too have missed many important child-related occasions for work. And if I had a penny for every time my kids have asked me, “Mommy, do you have to go upstairs and work tonight?” I’d have enough for my dream vacation to Paris.
“But you have to forgive yourself, let go of the guilt,” advised Krystal Shiver, a relationship manager for Military OneSource.
I hung on every word of Shiver’s session, which was on military parenting strategies and building resilience.
Couple Finds Courage to Seek Help
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 4, 2009
Ryan McNabb, of the Evanston Vet Center in Illinois, and his wife, Mandy, briefed on veterans counseling services during the DoD's Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 2, 2009
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Sept. 4, 2009
I posted a blog entry a few weeks ago about the importance of seeking help when needed. I met a couple at the DoD’s Joint Family Readiness Conference this week who brought that point home for me.
Ryan McNabb, of the Evanston Vet Center in Illinois, and his wife, Mandy, attended the conference to brief attendees on counseling services for veterans. The couple spoke from experience.
Both former sailors, they had sought counseling to deal with the aftermath of McNabb’s two deployments to Iraq. Ryan later was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Caregivers Discuss Deployment Issues
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 4, 2009
From left, Karen White, a child development center director; Dawn Coleman, an airman and family services flight chief; and Rocanne Wills, a family and child care coordinator, all from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., check map during the DoD’s Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 2, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Sept. 3, 2009
Seeking an “on the ground” perspective on how military families are coping, I spoke with several military family care providers attending the DoD’s Joint Family Readiness Conference, which wrapped up Sept. 3 in Chicago.
I asked each to provide an outlook of daily life at the installation level. In particular, I wanted to know which issue is foremost in family members’ minds.
The conference participants all responded with a common theme: dealing with deployments.
Karen White, the director of the child development center at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., noted that “multiple deployments and separations are taking a toll on the children. They affect everyone from infants to teens, as well as the spouses left behind.”
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Military Families Conference Wraps Up
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 3, 2009
Betsy Graham and Barbara Thompson, with the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, visit an information booth at the program showcase during the DoD Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 2, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson
The Defense Department’s Joint Readiness Conference wrapped up in Chicago Sept. 3. More than 1,500 attendees learned about military programs aimed at families.
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“I really like to know what’s going on in the services,” said Olivia O’Neal, site manager at Fleet and Family Support Center in Sasebo, Japan. “I’m one of those people who likes to see the big picture, and I know [the Defense Department] is big picture.”
The participants’ enthusiasm wasn’t lost on the organizers. Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department’s Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth Military Community and Family Policy – the office that organized the event, said she’s pleased with the results.
“We’re really excited about the outcome of this conference,” she said. “It was at the right time, with the right people and the right information to give to them.”
Topics at the conference included families and relationship and relocation.
From left, Flora Hess of Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.; Ivera Harris of Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; and Cheryl Anderson and Air Force Tech Sgt. Karlyn Beadles, both from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.; share family program information after a workshop at the Defense Department Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 2, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson
“I came here to network with other services and to learn about how operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom affect families who are relocating,” said Connie Silk, who helps Fort Campbell, Ky., families with relocation issues. “There are many, many resources out there, but the trick is how to put them in a format so families know where to go for help or support.”
“I really enjoyed the class on marriage enrichment,” said Elizabeth Diaz, family readiness officer for the 1st Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif. “I’ll be able to take back solid tools to families.”
For more information, see Attendees Leave Family Conference With Wealth of Resources.
Service Chiefs Stress Importance of Families
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 3, 2009
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent, center, answers a question from the audience during a town hall at the DoD's Joint Family Readiness Conference. He was joined by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, left, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. Arthur J. Myers, right, principal director of military community and family policy, moderated the discussion. DoD photo by Samantha L. Quigley
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Sept. 2, 2009
A highlight of the DoD Joint Family Readiness Conference was a town-hall meeting yesterday featuring the senior enlisted chiefs for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Each cited the importance of military family support.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston expressed his pride in what he called the Army’s three “signature” programs: the Army Family Covenant, the Army Community Covenant and the Interstate Education Compact.
Until the Family Covenant, “the programs really weren’t resourced at the levels they needed to be,” Preston said.
Audience members listen to a presentation by Trevor Romain Sept. 2, 2009, during the DoD's Joint Family Readiness Conference. DoD photo by Samantha Quigley
“We’re continuing to grow and modify the Army Family Covenant each and every day to make it better and to provide access to all those programs that are out there.”
The Community Covenant was designed to partner installation, local community and state leadership, Preston said. “It allows us, across the Army, with all of our military bases, to share best practices.”
The Education Compact “is one of the things that we’re really pushing to get all the states to partner and recognize the compatibility and transferability of our children’s youth education,” he said.
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent said the Marines are “growing in families” with half of the force now married. And the average Marine is deployed four or five times over an eight-year period.
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General’s Wife Touts Military’s Programs
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 2, 2009
Christi Ham, wife of Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army, smiles at a comment her husband made during their joint keynote address at the Defense Department’s Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 1, 2009. DoD photo by Samantha L. Quigley
Christi Ham, wife of Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe and the 7th Army, joined her husband in giving the keynote address at the Defense Department’s Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 1, 2009. “For decades now, I have been involved in a relationship outside of our marriage,” she told the group, “but it has proven to be wonderful, worthwhile, important, and rewarding. My involvement during this time has been with Uncle Sam, and it has been an incredible relationship.”
Over time, she said, Uncle Sam has listened to her and other military spouses and slowly has brought about change to meet their needs.
Check out this article about the first day of the conference: Pledge of Support From First Lady Begins Family Conference
Leaders Pledge to Support Families
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 1, 2009
Army Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army, speaks at the Defense Department’s Joint Family Readiness Conference in Chicago, Sept. 1, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Sept. 1, 2009
I’m in Chicago attending the Defense Department’s first Joint Family Readiness Conference in nearly 10 years. The hotel is huge and sprawling, but the conference has a small-town feel. Many of the attendees – all helping professionals – know each other or have crossed paths before.
The conference’s opening session took place early this morning. The highlights were a letter from first lady Michelle Obama, a well-known supporter of military families, as well as remarks from a long-time military family.
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Bound for Joint Family Conference in Chicago
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on August 31, 2009
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Aug. 31, 2009
I’ll be traveling to Chicago later today to blog about the Defense Department’s first joint family readiness conference in nearly a decade.
About 1,500 helping professionals from every military service as well as active-duty and reserve components are expected to attend. Attendees work in a variety of areas including family support, children and youth, psychological health, health care, education and the chaplaincy.
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