Coming together to support military children

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Caring for Hanscom's military children is a partnership effort among 66th Air Base Wing organizations, especially when it comes to the support provided to families dealing with the deployment of a loved one.

"Deployments have such a huge impact on families, especially children," said Roxane Dietrich, 66th Services Squadron, Family Members Program flight chief. "We want families to know that they are not alone in having to deal with these situations. We have a number of resources available to help ease the impact that a deployment has on their children and family as a whole."

At the Child Development Center, for example, staff work with families facing a deployment or extended temporary duty travel to put together countdown calendars for the child to countdown the days until their parent returns along with their classmates and then when the member returns the classes take part in making welcome home banners to hang at the Center.

Both the 66th Services Squadron Family Member Programs and the Airman and Family Readiness Center have programs and resources available to help servicemembers and their families through the entire deployment process of preparation, separation and reunion.

Resources such as books, articles and related media tools that offer guidance to parents on helping children successfully deal with deployments are available at locations such as the Child Development Center, School Age Program, Youth Center and the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Additionally, families can get assistance from Military Family Life Consultants who provide free, short-term, non-medical, solution-oriented counseling on a range of issues. For service members, spouses, family members, children, DoD civilians and contractors. No records of the counseling session are kept. To schedule an appointment call (781) 686-3084 and leave a first name only.

Among the programs offered through the A&FRC are both one-on-one and family pre- and post-deployment briefings, which include resource materials and reunion and reintegration assessments; tools encouraging family communication, such as free, pre-paid phone cards and e-mail access and coordination of video-teleconferencing and financial planning sessions to assist families in getting and keeping their finances in order for the duration of the deployment.

"The diverse programs offered through the A&FRC are designed to help meet the needs of our families. We encourage people to take advantage of these offerings; by talking and sharing experiences a lot can be gained to help ease the stress a deployment can have on a family," said Master Sgt. Donald Gonsalves, family readiness coordinator

Additional support offered through the A&FRC includes:

· morale calls using the military phone system
· a morale e-mail program, along with free digital camera loans and on-site videotaping sessions, which allow family members to send messages, photos and video e-mails to deployed loved ones
· creation and distribution of tactile reminders, such as the Readiness Emergency Sleeping Tool (REST), a pillow case imprinted with a photo of the deployed member; a "Bear Cares" teddy bear; a cloth doll of the deploying member for small children; and "Table Talk," a tablecloth that families make notes on during the separation and use at the reunion meal to transition the parent back to family life.

Parents can also participate in the Hearts Apart Program, an informal support group that meets once per month at the A&FRC and other various locations. It is designed for families of deployed, remote tour military members to come together to share experiences and provide friendship and support to one another.

The Base Chapel and the A&FRC have teamed up to sponsor a new program called Spouse to Spouse. The program is a peer support group for military spouses whose spouse is deployed or on frequent temporary duty assignments. The program offers a chance for spouses to talk, cry, share, listen and be strengthened by others in similar situations. All service branches are welcome to attend, meetings will be held the third Thursday of the month in the Chapel Conference Room. Activities for participants' children will be offered in the Annex.

Anyone who would like to bring their children for the concurrent activities in the Annex, are asked to call the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 781-377-4222 with their ages to ensure age-appropriate activities are prepared.

"We're here to help all of our military families, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard, to better cope with the stress that deployments place on the youngest members of our community. We want our families to know that they are not alone, there's always help available when you need it," Sergeant Gonsalves said.

For additional information on programs and resources available for families contact the A&FRC at (781) 377-4222 or inquire at any of the 66th Services Squadron, Family Member Programs.