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MC&FP eMagazine March 2010
http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/mcfp/emag
The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) is directly
responsible for programs and policies that support community quality of life for service members and their families
worldwide.
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From the Principal Director...
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description.
March is one of those pivotal months. It‘s a time some of us
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look anxiously to the arrival of spring (or perhaps just
warmer, snow-free weather), more daylight hours, and what
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the ‘March Madness’ college basketball brings. It’s clearly a
time of change.
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After more than a year awaiting new leadership, a welcome
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change for us in MC&FP is the appointment of our new Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Dr.
Clifford Stanley. Secretary Stanley is a retired United States
Marine Corps infantry officer who served 33 years in
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uniform, retiring as a Major
General. Prior to his current assignment, he was president of Scholarship
America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship organization.
Dr. Stanley calls on all of us to use compassion, standards of excellence and a
heightened sense of urgency as we fulfill our duties. He reminds us that our
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troops are at war – we need to do all that we can for those who risk their lives
for us.
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We are excited to tell you about another wonderful change, a new directorate in
MC&FP. On March 12th, Dr. Rebecca Posante was appointed as director of the
newly created Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special
Needs. Landmark legislation last fall directed the establishment of the office and
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mandated a standard exceptional family program across all military
departments. In the next few months, Dr. Posante and her team will assess
programs to identify strengths and bridge gaps; expand family support
programs; and monitor the availability of programs provided by the federal,
state, local and non-governmental levels in support of military families with
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special needs. You can expect an e-magazine spotlight in an upcoming issue.
As many of you know, in January through mid-February this year, we
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experienced an unforeseen and unprecedented spike in enrollments in the
military spouse career advancement program – MyCAA. The number of new
enrollments increased six-fold, from an average of 10,000 a month, to
approximately 70,000. This increase was overwhelming the system intended to
support the program and almost reached the budget threshold. In response, we
were forced to implement an operational pause.
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2. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
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Following this announcement, we received an outpouring of feedback,
suggestions and concerns. Prior to the pause, we believed the program was
highly valued; customer feedback affirmed this! We were very pleased to
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announce resumption of program operations effective at noon, March 13th, for
the 136,583 military spouses who had existing accounts. We are currently
developing long-term options for spouses not yet enrolled and expect to
announce the details soon. Until then, no new accounts can be created but
Military OneSource Spouse Education and Career Consultants will continue to be
available to provide education and training, career exploration, assessment,
employment readiness and career search assistance.
And finally, this is also a time to say good-bye. On March 11th, for personal
reasons, Mr. Thomas resigned his position as the Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. Mr Thomas came into the
position to make a difference in the lives of our service members and their
families. We wish him and his family much success and thank him for his
service.
This issue of the e-magazine features Barbara Thompson, the director of the
Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth. This special attention seems
particularly fitting as we prepare for the April and the Month of the Military
Child – a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily
sacrifices they make and challenges they overcome.
Thank you for reading this column all the way to the end! I’m usually a man of
fewer words, but we had a lot to share. Until the next issue of the e-magazine,
take care and thank you for all you do!
Arthur J. Myers
Principal Director, Military Community & Family Policy
In This Issue ...
» Director's Spotlight » Headlines
» Monthly Highlights » MilitaryHOMEFRONT
» Military OneSource » Good News Story
» Chaplain's Corner » Armed Forces Retirement Home
» Army GLIS » DoDEA: School Report Cards
» Family Matters Blog » Future of DoDEA
» Home Sweet Home Workshop Kit » Military Saves Campaign
» MYOM: New Content Unveiled » MWR Survey
» New EFMP MOS Resource » SAPRline of Courage
» Tax Season Is Now Upon Us! » USA4 Military Families
» Submit a question or comment about this issue of the eMagazine
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3. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Barbara Thompson, Director
Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth
Policy/Children and Photo of Ms. Barbara Thompson, Director, Office of Family
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Barbara Thompson joined the Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP)
team in 2000. In 2003, she was tasked to support the rebuilding of the Ministry
of Education in Iraq and in 2004, to coordinate support programs for severely
injured service members and their families. In 2005, she assumed the duties of
her current position as Director of the Office of Family Policy/Children and
Youth, responsible for programs and policies that promote military families' well
-being and quality of life. In this capacity, she has oversight for Department of
Defense (DoD) child development and youth programs, which together serve
700,000 children and youth daily, and family centers, which are the hub of
family support at approximately 300 military installations worldwide. Barbara is
responsible for Military OneSource, the Department's 24-hour/365 day
centralized assistance program, and coordinating efforts to serve geographically
dispersed military families through the Joint Family Support Assistance Program
(JFSAP). Barbara also has purview over the Department’s spouse career
advancement, personal financial readiness, and non-medical counseling
programs. Most recently, she has undertaken efforts to coordinate the Military
Family Readiness Council, a congressionally mandated group charged with
monitoring requirements for the support of military family readiness. Barbara
was recently selected to attend the Federal Executive Institute, where she will
work in a teaming environment to enhance core leadership competencies.
Prior to joining MC&FP, Barbara spent eighteen years with Air Force family
programs, most recently as the Child Development Program and Youth Training
and Curriculum Specialist at Air Force Headquarters. During her tenure with the
Air Force, she was an integral member of the team that helped over ninety-
eight percent of Air Force child development programs achieve accreditation by
the National Association for the Education of Young Children. These efforts
contributed to recognition of DoD child care programs as a model for the
nation. While serving with the Air Force at Torrejon Air Base in Madrid, Spain,
Barbara also became fluent in Spanish.
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Barbara's passion for working with, and supporting the development of, very
young children led her to pursue Bachelors of Arts degrees in Early Education
and Spanish from St. Louis University, where she graduated cum laude. She
subsequently received her Masters degree in Management from Troy State
University. Selected as one of only eleven Harris experienced professionals with
an established record of leadership and achievement, Barbara participated in
ZERO TO THREE's prestigious Leaders for the 21st Century Program. This
experience provided her with an opportunity to collaborate with top leaders
from many disciplines to help improve the lives of very young children.
In addition to honing her Spanish language skills, Barbara's time in Spain also
influenced her culinary style. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with
her family and creating artful cuisine in the kitchen. Barbara's philosophy in
both her personal and professional life is best captured by Jane Goodall: “Above
all, we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us
impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift
of our life to make the world a better place - or not to bother.”
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5. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Headlines
Consultants Offer Support to Off-base Schools
Most military children attend non-Defense Department schools, but military
officials are determined not to allow their unique needs to slip through the
cracks.
The Office of Military Community and Family Policy has expanded its Military
and Family Life Consultant program to encompass non-Defense Department
schools. More than 90 percent of military children attend public, private and
charter schools, officials said.
"Many schools have guidance counselors and school counselors with behavioral
health backgrounds," said Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense
Department's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth. "But we're
augmenting and increasing understanding of what a military child is going
through; what it's like to be a child in school with a deployed parent."
The Military and Family Life Consultant program offers nonmedical counseling
support to military members and their families on and off military installations,
both stateside and overseas.
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6. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Monthly Highlights
April
Child Abuse Prevention Month
The DoD Family Advocacy Program (FAP) was established in 1982 to prevent
and address violence in military families. Today, there are almost 200 family
advocacy programs across the four military Services at military installations
worldwide. As we make preparations for observing Child Abuse Prevention
Month in April, it is important to reflect on how different agencies,
organizations, and Services have come together over the years to help prevent
child abuse and neglect. Child abuse prevention requires coordinated,
collaborative efforts across multiple agencies in both the military and civilian
communities. As our programs grow, always evolving, always becoming more
refined, our collective care for children grows stronger and more
comprehensive.
For ideas and resources, check out the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Month of the Millitary Child
Highlighting the important role military children play in the armed forces
community, The Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military
families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and challenges
they overcome. Military children face many obstacles unique to their situation,
such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time and frequently
being uprooted from school.
Throughout the month, military commands will plan special events to honor
military children. These events will stress the importance of providing children
with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military
lifestyle.
Operation Military Kids (OMK) is a nationwide partnership of military and civilian
organizations that coordinate social, recreational, and educational opportunities
for school-age military kids in their communities. OMK encourages partners like
4-H clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the American Legion to sponsor Month of
the Military Child local events. Visit www.operationmilitarykids.com for more
information.
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7. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
A Tour of MilitaryHOMEFRONT
MilitaryHOMEFRONT (MHF) is the Department of Defense (DoD) website for
official Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) program information,
policy, and guidance. Visitors to MilitaryHOMEFRONT will find information, tools,
and features uniquely designed for the military community, conveniently
categorized and tailored to our three audiences: Troops and Families, Service
Leadership, and Service Providers.
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The most visited sections of the website include:
1. Moving Homepage in Troops and Families
2. Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) in Troops and Families
3. Troops and Families, Leadership, and Service Providers Homepages
4. Education for Family Members in Troops and Families
By looking more closely, we can identify why these sections of MHF are critical
support areas for service and family members, leadership, and service
providers.
Moving Homepage
For service and family members, moving is a way of life. From the MHF Moving
Homepage, users have access to comprehensive moving information, details
about benefits and allowances, a relocation budget planner, and links to
MilitaryINSTALLATIONS and Plan My Move. Whether you are a seasoned mover
or relocating for the first time, MHF can help simplify the moving process.
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Over 100,000 military families have members with special needs. These include
spouses, children, or dependent parents who require special medical or
educational services. The materials within the Special Needs/EFMP section of
MHF are designed to give service members and their families critical
information and resources related to the EFMP. Ranging from Education and
Medical Care to Family Support and the Special Needs Parent Toolkit, the EFMP
section of MHF provides the most comprehensive listing of resources and
information available to assist EFM families.
Troops and Families, Leadership and Service Providers Homepages
From each of our three audience homepages, a user has access to the latest
targeted Quality of Life (QOL) highlights and headlines from sources such as
DoD, TRICARE, exchanges and commissaries, and MHF. In addition, a
comprehensive list of QOL topic areas and resources are available from each
homepage, providing one-stop accessibility for the user.
Education for Family Members
A number of different programs are available to spouses and children of service
members and to adult family members wishing to pursue their higher level
education goals. With information on scholarships and financial aid, educational
benefits and military friendly schools, military children and spouses, as well as
service members, have access through MHF to the resources necessary to
achieve their education goals.
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Visit MilitaryHOMEFRONT and find the information that best speaks to your
needs and interests.
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9. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Returning from Combat
Military OneSource Helps Ease the Transition
Combat changes things. Some returning service members have a hard time
sleeping, some feel anxious, some have difficulty shedding the aggressive
behavior necessary for survival in combat but an impediment to healthy life at
home. It takes time and patience for everyone — the service member, spouse,
parents, children, and friends — to make the transition.
Military OneSource, the free Department of Defense (DoD) program for service
members and their families, is here to help. Our counseling services, offered by
phone, online, and face-to-face in the local community, help service members
and their spouses with a wide range of issues, including adjusting to life after
deployment. We also provide expertly prepared publications and audios created
to help during all phases of deployment, available at
www.MilitaryOneSource.com or by calling 1-800-342-9647.
Our New Chill Drills Playaway® Audio
The newest addition to our deployment resources is Chill Drills: Relaxing Your
Body and Mind, a Military OneSource-original audio designed to help service
members take the edge off before, during, and after deployment. These
relaxation exercises were created by Heidi Bauer, MSW, LCSW, a therapist who
specializes in working with service members and their families. Each track has
its own purpose: to relax the mind, release stress, ease back pain, or help the
user get to sleep. The drills are designed to keep service members calm and
focused on deployment, and help ease the stresses associated with returning
home from combat operations.
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Chill Drills is produced in the ideal format for service members. The small, self-
contained Playaway® format lets service members use the drills just about
anywhere, whether they’re in transit, training security forces in a remote
location in Afghanistan, at a military treatment facility, or back home in a
hammock in the yard. There is no need for external electricity, computers, MP3
players, or other devices. The handy format, smaller than a deck of cards,
means service members can slip Chill Drills into a utility pocket.
Service members and their spouses can order Chill Drills by
visiting www.MilitaryOneSource.com/chilldrills or by calling 1-800-342-9647.
Part of a Larger Group of Military OneSource Deployment Materials
Chill Drills joins our larger family of expertly prepared materials designed to
help service members and their families handle the cycle of deployment,
including the CDs Double Duty: Staying Connected with Your Kids When You’re
a Deployed Dad and These Boots: A Spouse’s Guide to Stepping Up and
Standing Tall During Deployment; the graphic novel Coming Home: What to
Expect, How to Deal When You Return from Combat; and dozens of articles,
including Returning to Family Life After Deployment, Quick Tips for Single
Service Members Returning Home, and Talking with Children About the Return
of a Parent.
To find these resources, go to www.MilitaryOneSource.com/deployment or call
1-800-342-9647.
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11. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Good News Story
Accessible Playgrounds for Children with Special Needs
Donovan End of image description. Donovan, son of Paula and Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Timothy
Image description. Photo of Timothy
In the coming year, forty installations throughout the United States and
overseas will build playgrounds that are accessible to children and adults with
disabilities. These playgrounds will be handicap-accessible and are designed to
enable special-needs children to join their friends at play. The playgrounds
feature brand new equipment, protective surfacing and borders, and wheelchair
accessible pathways. The accessible playground is a layout of specifically
selected playground equipment connected and arranged in a manner that is
barrier-free and supports child development. Equipment is carefully selected
and laid out in configurations that are fun, rigorous, and challenging for children
of different abilities. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe place where children
and their families can play together and have fun.
Locations:
Kaiserslaturen Fort Drum MCB Camp Pendleton
Grafenwoehr Fort Lee MCAS Cherry Point
Fort Gordon Fort Campbell MCAD Miramar
Fort Polk Fort Knox MCB Camp Lejeune
Fort Sill Fort Meade Andrews AFB
Fort Bragg Fort Hood Lackland AFB
Fort Lewis NAB San Diego Travis AFB
Fort Bliss NAS Oceana Wright-Paterson AFB
Fort Stewart NAS Jacksonville Nellis AFB
Fort Carson NAVSTA Pearl Harbor Aviano AFB
Fort Benning NDW Anacostia RAF Lakenheath
Fort Sam Houston NSA Naples Kadena AFB
Fort Belvior NAS Sigonella
Fort Riley MCB Quantico
Department of Defense schools will also revamp some school playgrounds for
special-needs children. The modifications to the existing playgrounds will bring
them into compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and the playground industry.
Twenty-three schools will receive new playground equipment:
Fort Bragg: Bowley ES, Devers ES, Holbrook ES
Fort Campbell: Barkley ES, Lucas ES, Marshall ES, Jackson ES, Lincoln ES
Fort Knox: Mudge ES, Van Voorhis ES, Pierce ES, Macdonald IS, Kingsolver
ES, Scott MS, Knox HS, Walker IS
MCB Quantico: Russell ES, Ashurst ES
Fort Stewart: Brittin ES
Heidelberg District: Hainerberg ES, Patch ES
Isles District: Geilenkirchen ES
Mediterranean District: Rota ES
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12. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Sentiment, or Something More?
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Love makes its presence known in bright, colorful ways each February 14th,
Valentine's Day. Many of us exchange cards and candy boxes, often decked out
in red hearts and cupids, or make special romantic plans to mark this day.
As we consider the subject of love, I have a question to ask: is it more than
sentiment? Does love come from somewhere deeper than feeling or romantic
affection, great as those things are?
Ask a Soldier who lost a limb in Afghanistan, or a Marine who has little hope of
a return to the "old normal," experiencing the ravages or posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Or, to put it in the context of older wars, what motivates a
perfectly healthy Soldier to jump on a live hand grenade, letting his body take
the full impact to save his buddies? Is it lunacy, or something different?
As I ponder these questions, I realize one thing I have learned about love: it is
expensive. And it seems that as we move beyond romantic and sentimental
love, to sacrificial love, the more expensive it gets. To love someone is to give
of yourself: time, effort, money, conversation, focus … you name it. It's costly.
And it's not easy.
As we continue the struggle to fully support our military families, I suggest that
we continue learning to love … to truly give. Not necessarily because others
"deserve" our love, but because we are capable of loving and we are designed
to do it. Yes, I believe that our ability to love others is a reflection of God’s love.
Perhaps you have heard the saying, "Greater love has no one than this, that
one lay down his life for his friends." That is so true.
"Laying down" one's life doesn't always mean sacrificing one life for another. It
can be prodding ourselves to really listen to someone else instead of just
resting on the most insubstantial surface of a conversation; it can be initiating
contact with someone with whom we've lost touch; it can be giving up our
rightful place or position to another.
In Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) we can show love, caring,
and concern to others through our daily work. It is critical that we stay focused
on helping others, even beyond what duty requires or personal ambition
dictates. To love someone really is more than sentiment … it demands sacrifice
… and it pays rich rewards!
The insightful writer, Frederick Buechner, in his book The Magnificent Defeat,
put it this way:
The love for equals is a human thing of friend for friend, brother for brother. It
is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles.
The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing. The love for those who
suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is
compassion, and it touches the heart of the world.
The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing. To love those who succeed
where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the
poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always
bewildered by its saints.
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And then there is the love for the enemy. Love for the one who does not love
you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The love of the tortured for the
torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world.
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14. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Armed Forces Retirement Home
On August 29, 2005, a storm of monumental proportion turned her destructive
fury towards the Mississippi coastline. As a result of Hurricane Katrina, the
Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) – Gulfport was forced to close the
campus. Many of the Gulfport residents chose to make the AFRH – Washington
DC their temporary home as Gulfport rebuilt. The new Gulfport facility
construction is on track and the facility is scheduled to be substantially
completed in late 2010, with residents moving back beginning in October.
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The new state of the art facility is being built to Category 5 Hurricane standards
and is eighty-two percent complete. Residents have been included in the
planning of their new "home" throughout the rebuilding process. When they
return to the ARHF – Gulfport, they will enjoy the spaciousness of fully
furnished rooms that are 450 square feet (resident rooms before Katrina were
90 square feet).
As part of the reopening of the facility, staff positions will be hired over the
course of the next six months. The facility will be hiring key staff members to
include a Director, an Administrative Officer, a Director of Nursing , and Chiefs
of Security, Resident Services, Health Care, and Campus Operations. The staff
to support those positions will be hired in the third and fourth quarters of 2010.
AFRH – Gulfport facility was restoredthe Chapel, with the floors covered to protect description. terrazzo floors. The stained glass from the original
Image description. The sanctuary of and placed in the new chapel. End of image the restored
In August of 2009, AFRH – Washington DC began hosting Monthly Focus Group
meetings with residents to answer any questions they might have and to
provide updates on the facility construction progress. For those Gulfport
residents not residing at AFRH – Washington DC, information is available on the
AFRH website, including the Communication Plan with Questions and Answers
for residents.
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15. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Army GLIS
The Army General Library Information System (GLIS), managed by the Army’s
Family and MWR Command (FMWRC), provides web-based library services to
family members and deployed Soldiers. Under GLIS, the Army MWR libraries
will become a true library system with common levels of service at each
installation.
GLIS is not only a catalog of materials available within the libraries, but also
links to more than 13,000 full text magazines, ebooks, college guides, and
career information resources. These resources include practice tests for college
entrance exams, practice tests for entrance into the armed services,
automotive repair manuals, and products geared to school curriculums.
Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) recently funded many of these
web-based products to augment content and promulgate enterprise-wide
purchasing across the Services. Soldiers and families can easily access these
resources through Army Knowledge Online, Army OneSource, and Military
OneSource.
Recently FMWRC migrated more than two million records for sixty-six libraries
from the Horizon Software hosted at Fort Belvoir to Millennium Software hosted
at Fort Carson. The new GLIS software empowers users to write reviews, rate
books, request titles, and renew materials. Registered GLIS users are able to
search their library’s catalog, view their account, search across many data
sources for information, ask a librarian for help locating information, download
audio books to iPods and MP3 Players, and read magazines and ebooks online.
The GLIS catalog also includes enhanced library catalog information to include
images of book covers, book reviews, table of contents, and best seller lists.
With GLIS, deployed Soldiers have many of the same library and information
services they would have through their installation library.
GLIS implementation began in September 2005 with the Fort Campbell library.
FMWRC plans to complete GLIS implementation in all Army MWR libraries by
the first quarter of 2012. At that time, GLIS-registered Soldiers and their
families will only need to update their user profile as they move from
installation to installation to gain online access to their local Army MWR library.
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16. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
DoDEA Releases School Report Cards
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) recently released web-
based School Report Cards (SRCs) in an effort to provide more information on
school performance and accountability.
DoDEA's SRCs will be very similar to the SRCs that are required by the No Child
Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The SRCs list school contact information, school
improvement goals, a school’s student demographic profile, and academic
indicators such as the SAT and TerraNova scores.
The SRCs were created as a part of DoDEA's response to greater accountability
to parents and stakeholders. They are designed to help families who may be
transitioning to DoDEA schools by giving them an overview of a new school
before their child ever sets foot in the classroom. This year marks the initial
launch of the SRCs.
Dr. Shirley A. Miles, DoDEA's Director, expressed the importance that the
School Report Cards will play in continuing to provide a high quality education
to all military dependents.
"These school report cards will allow for parents to visually see how each school
is faring so that they can work with schools to address their child’s educational
needs," she said. "We want to ensure that we are providing a high quality level
of education to our students and working towards continuous improvement. I
believe that these report cards will not only show evidence of that, but they will
show our commitment to being more transparent and communicative."
Mr. Charles Toth, DoDEA's Principal Deputy Director & Associate Director for
Education, also stressed the importance of using the School Report Cards,
particularly for parents.
"Considering the frequency with which military families move, this is a great
tool to help parents get a feel for where their student is to attend school well
before their child's first day," he said. "So when a child has to transition to a
new school they are prepared and know what to expect."
The SRCs also contain valuable information that will be of use to
representatives at the headquarters, area, and district levels so that they can
become familiar with the schools that they will be visiting.
In the future, it is anticipated that the SRCs will include expanded data on
graduation rates, attendance rates, and information on elementary and middle
schools.
To access the SRCs, visit: https://webapps.dodea.edu/SRC/.
DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who
would otherwise not have access to a high-quality, public education. DoDEA
schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Cuba, and Puerto
Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities
throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.
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17. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Family Matters Blog
Elaine Wilson, editor and writer for American Forces Press Services, launched
the Family Matters Blog to provide resources and support to military families, as
well as to encourage a dialogue on topics ranging from deployments and
separations to the challenges of everyday life.
The Family Matters blog features current, up-to-date postings on topics that
matter to military families. Readers get short, well-written blogs filled with
findings from recent military-related studies, helpful childcare or education
resources, explanations of proposed federal legislation, and personal stories
and suggestions from experienced military spouses and experts.
Recent blog postings include an entry entitled Families Can Get Free Tax Help,
which outlines Military OneSource's recent offer for military families to file this
year’s taxes for free using the H&R Block At Home® Program. Another recent
blog posting, Families Gain Free Tutoring Service, highlights a new, free online
tutoring program launched by the Department of Defense (DoD) for service
members and their families.
Image description. Supermom graphic created for Ms. Hodge by her daughter. End of image
description.
In addition to these informative postings, readers have the opportunity to hear
from guest bloggers like Isabel Hodge. Isabel Hodge is the Military Community
and Family Policy (MC&FP) Special Needs/Exceptional Family Member Program
(EFMP) Family Support Program Manager, a military spouse for twenty-one
years, and a mother of three, including an eighteen-year-old son with autism.
Her first blog, Spouse Tackles Holiday Season Alone, was posted on December
24, 2009 and focused on dealing with a deployment during the holidays. Since
then, Ms. Hodge has written several other blogs entries, such as Spouses Deal
with Separations and Spouse Urges Families to be Prepared, combining helping
suggestions with resource ideas. Visit the Family Matters Blog and stay up-to-
date on what matters most to military families.
NOTE: The "Supermom" avatar was created for Ms. Hodge by her daughter.
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18. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Task Groups Plan for DoDEA's Future
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Combined Task Groups
met in December 2009 in Southbridge, Mass., to discuss their work and findings
to date regarding a variety of curriculum and program topics currently under
review.
DoDEA's Task Group Initiative began in School Year 2008-2009 with the
establishment of seven different task groups to examine Assessment, PreK-12
Literacy, PreK-12 Mathematics, Professional Development: Administrator
Performance Appraisal, Professional Development: Data-Driven Decision
Making for Differentiated Instruction, Professional Technical Studies, and the
Virtual School programs. Three new Task Groups were launched at the
beginning of School Year 2009-2010 to review 21st Century Skills, Early
Childhood Education (ECE), and Middle Level Education.
The task group participants meet several times throughout the school year and
represent a cross section of educators, administrators, and association
representatives from all levels of DoDEA. In keeping with DoDEA's intent to
maximize Task Group representation at the classroom-level, more than 80% of
each task group is composed of teachers. The task groups in each topic area
are charged with a variety of duties including reviewing data, current issues and
program evaluations, and student achievement
Following their reviews, Task Groups make recommendations to the DoDEA
Director and Deputy Director for improvement, modifications, or the elimination
of programs. Task groups meet until their activities are completed and in some
cases this may span several years.
"The recommendations of DoDEA's task groups will 'chart the course' for the
future of education across DoDEA," said Charlie Toth, DoDEA's Principal Deputy
Director and Associate Director for Education. "Our Task Groups' natural
progression of study and review under the premise of Kaizen, or continuous
improvement, helps us to ensure we deliver an educational experience for our
students to ensure progress, success, and highest achievement."
During last month's meeting, members of the seven Task Groups established in
School Year 2008-2009 met to polish final recommendations and action plans
and, in some cases, finish developing additional recommendations for
consideration by DoDEA leaders. Task Group participants also emphasized
developing connectivity across all groups with a major "Crosswalk" activity that
enabled all the groups to discuss how the individual group tasks and
recommendations intersected and supported the systemic DoDEA focus.
The meeting in Southbridge offered an opportunity for members of the 21st
Century Skills, Early Childhood Education, and Middle Level Education Task
Groups to meet for the first time. The first meeting for any new task groups
focuses primarily on understanding the breadth and complexity of the issues
the groups are exploring. Since members of all task groups were selected to
represent their areas, much of the discussion in the new groups focused on the
diversity and variability of schools and districts across DoDEA.
The new Task Groups will focus on:
• 21st Century Skills: defining 21st Century skills for DoDEA and
develop action plans for the integration of these skills into education,
operations and communications.
• Early Childhood Education: establishing consistency and
accountability in ECE practices which promote young children's optimal
learning, development, and achievement.
• Middle Level Education: developing a systemic middle level
philosophy and curriculum, decide what constitutes "successful middle
level schools," and identify how to make it happen across DoDEA.
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19. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Members of these groups reported good progress on their tasks, lively and
impassioned discussions, and positive feelings about movement into the next
phase of their mission.
Mark Bignell, Chair of the 21st Century Skills Task Force echoed these
sentiments.
"The 21st Century Skills Task Group spent its time analyzing current theoretical
frameworks for this issue," Bignell said. "This activity was at times as intense
as it was exhilarating. We found ourselves having to take a "collective breath"
to stop and reflect on the magnitude of this charge."
According to Bignell, his group will continue its work in February by examining
the domestic and international working models for 21st Century education.
A large part of DoDEA's student population is enrolled in its Early Childhood
Education Program. Lori Pickel, DoDEA's Early Childhood Education Coordinator
and leader of the ECE Task Group, explained the importance of this group’s
work and reported on its initial meeting.
"Early Childhood Education (ECE), grades PK-3, is the first tier of education in
DoDEA," said Pickel. "ECE is not a program or a curriculum, but rather, a way
of thinking that is based in knowledge and research about how young children
learn. Currently, 45% of DoDEA's student populations reside in ECE
classrooms. It is essential that DoDEA provide a strong developmentally
appropriate base for our children to begin their educational journeys,' she
explained.
"During the initial meeting, the group reviewed current DoDEA ECE programs,
analyzed and discussed DoDEA student achievement data, examined
assessment and progress reporting practices, and identified next steps," Pickel
said.
Mary Zimmerman-Bayer, Principal, Lakenheath Middle School and Chair for the
Middle Level Education Task Group, also commented on her group's first
meeting and discussions.
"The task group is an exceptional group of creative and analytical middle level
professionals who are dedicated to making our world class system even better
for our young adolescents," she said. "Last week, our "Middle Level Task
Group" focused on identifying multiple issues that affect more than 17,000
students in grades 6, 7 and 8 throughout DoDEA."
"So far, we have discovered 16 configurations of students at these grade levels
in DoDEA, and a variety of delivery models," Zimmerman-Bayer went on to
say. "We are evaluating data and examining performance levels to improve
academic and social excellence for all students."
DoDEA's Task Groups will continue their work in another meeting scheduled for
late winter.
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20. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Home Sweet Home Workshop Kit
Image description. Relocation Program Logo. End of image description.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), with the assistance of the
Services’ Relocation Managers Headquarters Committee members, has just
released an exciting new tool created specifically for relocation professionals to
use at the installation level. This new tool, Home Sweet Home, is a workshop
kit designed to be used with mobile military families as they prepare to assess
their housing options.
The relocation personnel located in the installation’s Family Center are the
primary resource for education, information, and referral regarding any moving
related issue. Their primary goal is to prepare service members and their
families for a military move that is as stress free and as cost effective as
possible. Home Sweet Home was created to provide the relocation professional
with a multi-faceted tool to accomplish this goal.
This workshop kit includes an Instructor’s Guide, a Student Manual and
Worksheets, and PowerPoint slides. This workshop is designed to provide
participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to make educated housing
decisions when they receive permanent change of station (PCS) orders. It walks
participants through key housing related topics such as:
• The Role of the Relocation Office
• The Role of the Housing Office and Government Housing Options
• Determining Your Housing Budget
• Evaluating Neighborhoods
• Rent versus Buy Decision-making
• The Rental Process
• The Buying Process
In addition to the topics listed above, the workshop kit also introduces
participants to Plan My Move (PMM) and MilitaryINSTALLATIONS (MI). PMM is a
set of online organizational tools designed to make frequent moves easier and
less disruptive for service members and families. Available tools include a
customizable calendar, to-do lists, departure and arrival checklists, installation
overviews, and installation specific information on a number of topics, such as
education, special needs, childcare, and employment.
MI, PMM’s companion website, is the official DoD source for installation and
state resources available to active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service
members and their families. Users may view articles, photos, major unit
listings, and contacts for programs and services for major installations
worldwide and some smaller installations. Users may also search articles and
local, state, and national resource directories. MI also allows users to customize
and print booklets of information specific to their family’s move. PMM and MI
can both be accessed through MilitaryHOMEFRONT at
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/moving.
Home Sweet Home is available through the ReloRAP community (a restricted
access community) on HOMEFRONTConnections at
https://apps.mhf.dod.mil/homefrontconnections
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21. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
or on MilitaryHOMEFRONT at
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/sp/movingandrelocation/resources.
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22. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
2010 Military Saves Campaign
Image description. Military Saves End of image description.
The Department of Defense (DoD) launched the 2010 Military Saves Campaign
with Military Saves Week, February 21-28, 2010. The Military Saves Campaign
is a social marketing campaign to persuade, motivate, and encourage service
members and their families to save their hard-earned money to meet their near
- and long-term financial goals. The Campaign is conducted annually in
cooperation with official DoD Financial Readiness Campaign nonprofit partner,
the Consumer Federation of America, as part of the larger nationwide America
Saves Campaign. The new Military Saves slogan, “Start Small. Think Big,”
conveyed the message that routinely saving even a small amount per month
can soon lead to big savings.
The goal for this year’s Campaign was to have service members and their
families make a personal commitment to save. This would help them avoid
many common financial pitfalls facing Americans everywhere such as
overreliance on credit, spending beyond one’s means, and an inability to retire
comfortably. Most importantly, in ensuring they are financially ready, our
service and family members will also be mission-ready, enabling commanders
to support both current and future military operations. As with the 2009
Campaign, each quarter of the calendar year will have a specific theme: first
quarter - saving and investing, second quarter - military youth, third quarter -
debt reduction, and fourth quarter - retirement.
Service members and their families are encouraged to go to
http://www.militarysaves.org/ anytime and register to take the “Saver Pledge,”
a personal commitment to save and to encourage others to do so.
Here are some tips to help get service members and their families started down
the road towards greater financial stability:
• Make a family savings plan to save for emergencies, short-term goals, and
long-term goals. See your installation Personal Financial Manager, unit
Command Financial Specialist, or consult Military OneSource for more
information and help.
• Open a savings account at your installation bank or credit union.
• If you have a savings account, increase your allotment.
• Enroll in the Thrift Savings Plan (or increase your allotment if already
participating). For more information, go to http://www.tsp.gov/.
• If deployed or deploying to an eligible location, participate in the Savings
Deposit Program, a DoD program that guarantees 10 percent annual return on
investment on up to $10,000! For more information, go to
http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/woundedwarriorpay/SDPBrochure_Mar08.pdf.
• Build an emergency savings of at least $500. If you reach $500, try to save
up to $1000. If you can only afford to save $10 per month, save $10 per
month.
For more information on Military Saves or to take the “Saver Pledge,” go to
http://www.militarysaves.org/.
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23. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
New Content for Parents Added to the Military Youth on
the Move Website
Image description. MYOM Logo. End of image description.
Military Youth on the Move (MYOM), a website that reaches out to youth with
creative ways to cope with issues that arise in the face of a move, has just
added an additional section entitled "Just for Parents." This new section is
designed to help military parents successfully navigate the unique challenges
they face by providing information and resources on topics specific to military
life and on issues that come up in day-to-day parenting.
Like the other sections of MYOM, "Just for Parents" is arranged by topic. Under
each topic, parents will find a wealth of good information, helpful advice and
suggestions, and additional links and resources, all designed to help parents
support their children. Some topics are military-specific, such as helping
children cope with frequent relocations, finding fun things to do at the new
location, and helping children deal with deployment, grief, and loss. There is
also information on more typical parenting issues including teaching financial
responsibility, staying safe on social networking sites, and creating healthy
living habits. In addition, "Just for Parents" includes information that speaks
directly to adult concerns such as childcare resources, going green, healthy
recipes, stress-relieving ideas, financial planning for the entire family, and
more.
To make moving as smooth a transition as possible, both parents and children
must be equipped with great information and a wealth of resources. With the
addition of "Just for Parents," the MYOM site supports the entire family's
successful relocation.
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24. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
MWR Conducts Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Department of Defense (DoD) conducted the first military-wide Customer
Satisfaction Index (CSI) Survey to assess Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
(MWR) programs during August 2009. Almost 25,000 active duty service
members had an opportunity to rate customer service based on categories such
as operation hours, facility condition, and quality of services provided.
The result was an overall DoD customer satisfaction index score of 69 based on
a 0-100 scale, with 0 being the worst possible score and 100 the best. The
scores do not represent “percent satisfied”; instead the scores represent the
average rating of three customer satisfaction questions on a 0 to 100 scale.
Seven MWR programs were rated for customer satisfaction. The Library
Program scored the highest with 74. Other programs’ respective scores were as
follows: Single Service Member Program - 73, Outdoor Recreation - 72,
Recreation Centers - 72, Leisure Travel - 72, Automotive Skills -72, and Fitness
Program - 69. Broadly speaking, scores in the 60s may be characterized as
indicating that a program is "fine but could use work," in the 70s as "good job
but keep working on it," and in the 80s as "excellent - keep it up." The survey
also measured the impact of MWR satisfaction on four desired outcomes:
readiness, retention, organizational commitment, and unit cohesion. The survey
findings indicated that MWR satisfaction has the greatest impact on readiness.
Taken together, survey findings suggest that improvements in Outdoor
Recreation and Fitness programs will have the highest impact on the overall
satisfaction with MWR and consequently on the “readiness” outcome. The CSI
Survey is an important tool for developing MWR strategic plans and as future
funding justification for improvements to the MWR Fitness and Outdoor
Recreation programs. The second DoD MWR CSI Survey will be conducted in
2010.
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25. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Military OneSource Launches Special Needs Web Pages
Image description. Military OneSource & EFMP End of image description.
Military OneSource has newly re-designed web pages for families with special
needs (www.militaryonesource.com/specialneeds)! These pages will educate
users on all that is available for special needs families through Military
OneSource, as well as through installation and Department of Defense
resources. From the launch page, the user can learn about family support,
moving with a special needs family member, medical care, education and early
intervention, financial and legal issues, support for adult members with special
needs, taking care of the caregiver, and respite care.
Image description. Military OneSource & EFMP End of image description.
A major focus of the new pages is to identify for the service or family member
exactly who can help them. They will be directed to call Military OneSource for
individualized consultations with a specialty consultant or to their Exceptional
Family Member Program (EFMP) coordinator at the local installation.
The special needs launch page prominently displays information on enrolling in
the EFMP, and directs users to applications such as MilitaryINSTALLATIONS,
where they can identify appropriate points of contact at the local installation.
Additionally, these new pages highlight the Military OneSource Health Library,
Health Coaching Resources, and other resources available on the Military
OneSource site, such as the TumbleBooks, a great resource for children.
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26. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
SAPRline of Courage
In April 2010, the Department of Defense (DoD)-wide SAPRline of Courage
event will be held in the Pentagon. This event, organized by the DoD Sexual
Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), provides an opportunity to
raise awareness of sexual assault within the military, engage bystanders and
policy makers, and to demonstrate DoD’s commitment to preventing sexual
assault and providing support and resources to service members who have
been affected by this devastating crime.
The SAPRO office is collecting shirts decorated by victims, their family members
and friends, and the service providers working to support them. Shirts will be
displayed on a clothesline in the Pentagon and some will be included in a
permanent exhibit within the building. Senior leadership from DoD and other
external federal partners will be invited as speakers.
Installation and deployable Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) are
encouraged to support SAPRO in their efforts by mailing shirts no earlier than
March 1, 2010, but before April 1, 2010, to show the world that the DoD does
indeed care about the men and women that have been entrusted to us. SARCs
or sexual assault victim advocates can present this to their commanders as an
opportunity for victims and others affected in their units to take part in this
event at the national-level, providing them with a way to share experiences and
to foster recovery.
For more information on the SAPRline of Courage, the SAPRO office has issued
guidance and point of contact information.
Page 26 of 29

27. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
Tax Season Is Now Upon Us!
Military OneSource Can Help Make Tax Season Less
Stressful.
Available now: Military OneSource brings you H&R Block At Home® online tax
filing (formerly TaxCut) service. After clicking on the link on the Military
OneSource website and creating an account, you can complete and
electronically file your federal and up to three state tax returns.
How popular is this FREE service? In 2009, over 200,000 service members
and/or their spouses filed their taxes electronically using H&R Block At Home®.
Military OneSource also offers free tax consultations to service members and
their spouses by phone. Consultations are performed by a Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) and are fifteen minutes in length. Call 1-800-730-3802 and
request to speak with a tax consultant. They are available seven days a week
from 7AM – 11PM (EST). Consultants can provide information regarding federal
tax filing requirements, allowable deductions, tax exemptions, tax credits, IRA
deductions, W-2/W-4 form questions, divorce taxation, dealing with the IRS,
and capital gains. Consultations only cover federal tax questions. Military
OneSource does not provide state-specific tax information. Service members
should contact their local installation Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Program or state revenue offices for state information.
Remember, Military OneSource is available 24/7, 365 days a year for all
military members and families, regardless of activation status.
Page 27 of 29

28. MC&FP eMagazine (March,2010) 3/17/2010
USA4 Military Families:
States Assisting Military Members and Their Families
The 2010 legislative session kicks off with new issues and increased
optimism. The Department of Defense (DoD) 10 Key Quality of Life Issues are
once again being considered by legislatures in the fifty states. After an
extensive nomination and review process that included input from the military
Services and other stakeholder organizations, Ms. Gail McGinn, the Deputy
Under Secretary of Defense for Plans (performing the duties for Personnel and
Readiness) announced the revised 10 Key Issues in time for the 2010
legislative session (detailed information at
http://www.usa4militaryfamilies.org/):
1. Increase key support for Guard and Reserve members and their
families.
2. Ensure deployment separation does not determine child custody
decisions.
3. Increase access to quality, affordable child care for military families.
4. Minimize school disruption for military children during transition and
deployment.
5. Enhance opportunities for portable careers for military spouses.
6. Provide unemployment compensation for trailing military spouses.
7. Promote enforcement of the predatory lending regulation.
8. Improve absentee voting for military members and their families.
9. Comport state laws with DoD rules on disposition.
10. Enhance foreign language capability through "Centers of Influence."
Two of these issues are new for 2010: the impact of deployments on child
custody decisions (#2) and ensuring state rules on the disposition of service
members’ remains match federal requirements (#9).
• The DoD is asking states to appropriately balance the interests of
service members who are absent due to military service with the best
interests of the child. The DoD is asking states to do this by ensuring
that absences caused by military deployments are not the sole basis
for permanent custody decisions and by addressing delegation of
visitation rights while the service member is deployed.
• Federal statutes require service members to designate a member of
their family to direct the disposition of their remains through the
Record of Emergency Data, the DD Form 93. State laws vary on this
issue, and disputes between family members can arise as a result of
the disparity between the federal and state requirements. To minimize
potential turmoil at a time of bereavement, the DoD is asking states to
recognize the DD Form 93 in their statutes.
Due to our past efforts, the states are increasingly addressing several key
quality of life issues, to include the impact of frequent school transitions
experienced by military children, the loss of income by military spouses as a
result of military moves, and the enforcement of the Congressionally-mandated
DoD predatory lending regulation. For example, twenty-seven states have
joined the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children,
thirty-six states now provide eligibility for unemployment compensation to
military spouses, and thirty states enforce the DoD predatory lending
regulation.
Ms. McGinn's announcement of the 2010 Issues also included a request for
commanders, service members, and their family members to actively
participate in informing legislators on these key issues. Concern has been
raised in the past that this activity may be construed as lobbying; however, a
review by the General Counsel has shown that informing legislators about the
background, and significance of, the issues is legally permissible provided it is
accomplished through official channels. In other words, responding to a request
for information from a legislator, participating in a hearing as a witness, and
sending official correspondence on the impact of an issue on the military
community are permissible forms of communication.
Page 28 of 29