FY05 Annual Report Final - STATES - The National Guard

During fiscal year 2005, the Family Program network serviced over
950 Guard members and their families. The family deployment
mission focused on providing services to Guard members through
participation in Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP), family and
Soldier deployment briefings, the establishment of Family Readiness
Groups, direct access to Family Assistance Centers (FACs), youth
activities, youth and adult reunion briefings, welcome home
gatherings and marriage enrichment training.
Family Assistance Centers are strategically located throughout the
state with family resources also available at Otis and Barnes Air
National Guard Bases. These centers were established to support
not only National Guard personnel but also other military
components and their family
members as well. FACs operate
as an information and referral
center regarding benefits and
entitlements, social service and
legal issues, financial assistance
programs, chaplain services,
communication and video
teleconferencing.
The first Prevention and
Relationship Enhancement
Program (PREP) was presented
on May 7, 2005, for redeployed
Guard members and their
spouses. Thirty couples attended
a full day of skills training and
exercises addressing effective
communication, realistic
expectations, understanding and
sensuality. This program is
designed as an interactive
practical experience enabling
the re-establish of healthy
relationships after a long period
of separation.
Family Readiness Group
charters and member
participation has excelled as a
result of the magnitude of recent
deployments. Family Readiness
Groups help families meet the
challenges of military life. Each FRG operates under the direction
of the unit commander. The FRG is a voluntary organization that
determines its own goals and activities.
The 2005 Massachusetts National Guard "Outstanding Family
Readiness and Support Award" was presented to Mrs. Catherine
M. Lazo of A Company 118th Medical Battalion and Master Sgt.
Julie Santos of the 267th Combat Communication Squadron.
During fiscal year 2005, FAC coordinators hosted six leadership
training sessions throughout the state to certify and enhance skills
of key FRG personnel as well as educate and update group leaders
with current information and referrals. Topics included FRG
guidelines and goals, the chain of command and the chain of concern,
youth programs, fundraising, telephone tree guidelines and FAC
versus FRG responsibilities. In all, over 40 key FRG leaders,
commanders and rear detachment personnel attended this course.
Massachusetts hosted the 2005 National Guard Bureau Family
Readiness and Youth Symposium at the Sheraton Copley Place,
Boston, from July 31 to August 4. Delegates from 54 states and
territories totaled 950 participants.
The Family Program Office also participated in the Military
Personnel Office University Weekend September 24 to 25, 2005.
Four, four-hour blocks of instruction were provided to Guard leaders
emphasizing program goals, unit
responsibilities, family readiness
and deployment programs and
youth initiatives.
The Massachusetts National
Guard Youth Program has grown
immensely over that past year.
Through the introduction of
literature and briefings directly
to families, we began promoting
the youth program across the
state. The program hosted
another GEAR Up Teen
Leadership training event and 30
teenagers are participating in the
program. The Youth Club
continues to receive quarterly
newsletters and has adopted a
mascot.
Deployment has been a large
focus for the Youth Program,
which has made incredible
strides to form a network of
support for children of
mobilized Guard members.
Programs include: all
dependants experiencing
separation receive a quarterly
newsletter; annual toy drives
provide toys for school age
children during the holidays; the
families receive a youth packet and brief from the state youth
coordinator at all pre-deployment briefings; and the children are
able to participate in activities at the reunion briefings after receiving
an award for their sacrifice and service during the deployment.
Photo by Master Sgt. Pallas deBettencourt, Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs
The Youth Program also worked very closely with our 4-H Military
Liaison to secure a two-year, $100,000 grant for "Operation Military
Kids," a community collaboration effort to support "suddenly
military" children and to educate the community about the effects
of deployment on our children.
In accordance with Massachusetts General Law, the Youth Program
initiated a system for conducting background checks on all of our
2005 Annual Report 15