Support to Navy Spouses Topic of Latest Family Gram

From Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs

June 8, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Educational and information resources, as well as support information for spouses are the subject of the latest "Family Gram," NAVADMIN 195/10 released June 2.

Navy spouses, often called the Navy's unsung heroes, endure frequent moves to unknown towns, long deployments and wartime fears.

The Navy provides an array of programs and resources to prepare spouses and family members to meet the unique challenges of military life.

Spouses who are new to the Navy, far from home or starting a new chapter in their life, may be unsure about what support is available or how to take advantage of it.

"Just call your nearest Fleet and Family Support Center," Kathy Turner, a program analyst at Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), said. "Even if you're too far from a base to come in, just call. The staff will be happy to answer your questions. In fact, when you're sure that there's no help available, that's a good time to call us. We'll get you headed in the right direction."

The Navy's goal is for spouses to be resilient, well-informed and adaptable to the Navy environment.

CNIC helps spouses reach this goal with its Child and Youth Program, Ombudsman Program and Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSCs).

FFSCs assist military spouses in obtaining employment and maintaining a career.

They teach personal financial management, with topics ranging from car and home buying to the financial impact of deployments.

They provide guidance on making permanent change of station moves, helping a family learn about their new duty station, the cost of living, availability of housing, even the cultural changes they will encounter.

FFSCs also offer clinical counseling and classes on a variety of topics, including anger management, stress management and couples communication.

"A spouse may have effectively dealt with anger, sadness or stress when they lived in a familiar town with family and friends they have known their whole life," Turner said. "But, leaving this personal support system may be stressful and require adjustment. Fleet and Family Support Centers offer life skills classes and services that show how to adjust and even thrive in these situations."

Short-term clinical counseling helps Sailors and families obtain the tools necessary to cope with the challenges of daily living. The courses and the counseling are free. People are welcome to come in anytime, without an appointment or a referral from the command.

For children and youth ages four weeks to 18 years, the Navy's Child and Youth Programs provide high quality educational and recreational programs. Teams of caring, knowledgeable professionals provide developmentally appropriate programs that respond to the unique needs, abilities, and interests of children.

"Military children face more than the usual challenges of growing up, such as moving every few years and establishing new friendships, while worrying about family members who have been deployed," Chuck Clymer, of the Navy's Child and Youth Programs, said. "We provide children and families with trusted programs and services that assist in coping with these challenges, making the difference between stress and success."

Child development homes offer quality care in a loving, learning home environment for children ages 4 weeks to 12 years. The flexible hours, 24/7 care, low child-to-adult ratios and convenient locations make this a viable option for families whose "normal" workday is anything but normal.

School-age care programs provide quality before and after-school programs and camps for children ages six to 12 years in 86 centers worldwide.

Youth and teen programs offer developmental and recreational programs that provide a safe place to learn and grow.

The Navy's Family Ombudsmen are Navy spouses who volunteer to serve as a vital two-way communication link between the command and Navy families. They offer support and guidance to families in their role as the official liaison between the command and its families.

When families respond to the challenges of deployments, natural disasters or family emergencies, ombudsmen are there to provide guidance and to help them regain a sense of normalcy. Ombudsmen help families find the answers to their questions, promoting their resiliency and self reliance. Ombudsmen serve families of Active duty and Reservists, whether they deploy as a unit or as an individual augmentee; whether they live right on a base or hundreds of miles from any base.

"They serve with a genuine desire to help," Kathy Rock, manager of the Navy Family Ombudsman Program, said. "These are extraordinary times for spouses. Whether it is for surge or individual augmentee deployments, or even natural disasters, ombudsmen keep the information moving."