DIRECTOR MILITARY FAMILY SERVICES

Military Family Services Program (MFSP)

This year was one of reflection, change, and growth for CFPSA’s PSP Division and, in particular, for the Director Military Family Services (DMFS) that oversees the Military Family Services Program (MFSP). The Chief of Review Services Program Evaluation of the Department of National Defence shed light on the significant accomplishments of the MFSP and outlined the work yet to be done. The establishment of the Family Services Review Working Group—comprised of key stakeholders, including elected board and staff representatives from Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs)—will provide a forum that enables us to work together to continue to provide exceptional services to Canadian Forces (CF) communities in Canada and abroad.

Training and Development

	"...INSTITUTING FIELD-BASED REGIONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT CANADA."

DMFS provided assistance and sponsorship of regional training opportunities for Canadian/Military Family Resource Centre (C/MFRC) staff and volunteers in Europe, the Prairie/Pacific region, and the Atlantic region. The conferences—which were hosted by C/MFRCs in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Geilenkirchen, Germany—were rated as the "best ever" by participants.

New MFRC Executive Directors now benefit from a two-day orientation session that takes place at CFPSA Headquarters in Ottawa. The session is run by DMFS program and training co-ordinators. This year, two sessions were held that provided both sound training, and the added benefit of improving communications and working relationships.

Regional Representatives – The Way Ahead

In the fall of 2002, DMFS adopted a new approach to providing support to the MFRCs throughout the country. After the success of having an on-site regional representative in Europe, DMFS is instituting fieldbased regional support throughout Canada in order to increase the C/MFRCs’ abilities to serve their respective CF communities. DMFS regional representatives are now located in the Atlantic and Eastern regions. In the coming year, representatives will also be recruited for the Ontario, Prairie, and Pacific regions. The regional approach will ensure regular contact with MFRCs, and will facilitate support in fund raising, business planning, board development, financial operations, and human resources management.

Prevention of Family Violence

This year, DMFS issued a policy and standards document for Military Family Resource Centres outlining their continuing commitment to the prevention of family violence.

Through the Prevention and Intervention Service at each MFRC, self-help groups are organized to meet the needs of community members by controlling potentially abusive behaviour or dealing with abusive relationships. Up-to-date resources and educational materials are prominently displayed at each MFRC, and a workshop on preventing family violence is held annually.

Director Military Family Services is a member of the Canadian Forces Family Violence Advisory Committee. This committee advised the Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAOD) on Family Violence and the Family Violence Action Plan.

Risk Management

The MFSP Risk Management Project was initiated to further the Operational Plan goal to provide “a co-ordinated, consistent, and effective approach to military family support.” The project also aims at responding to the concerns expressed by MFRC staff and board members about risk, including potential personal and organizational exposure to liability.

The primary goal of the MFSP Risk Management Project is to provide MFRCs with information, tools, and support that will enable them to create, implement, monitor, and devise a comprehensive, integrated Risk Management Plan. This information will be available to centres in September 2002.

National Youth Programs and Services Model

This year, PSP in consultation with an advisory group of several key youth serving organizations, laid the foundation for the development of a National Youth Programs and Services Model for CF communities.

	"CFPSA AREAS WORKING TOGETHER WITH MFRCs TO PROVIDE A MORE SYSTEMATIC, INTEGRATED, AND SEAMLESS APPROACH."

The goal is to develop a model that will reflect and respond to the needs and interests of youth (between the ages of 12 and 18) of Canadian Forces members. This approach exemplifies various CFPSA areas working together with MFRCs to provide a more systematic, integrated, and seamless approach to the delivery of youth programs and services in CF communities. The model is targeted for completion and launch in the next fiscal year.

Emergency Childcare Service

The Emergency Childcare Service has proven essential to Canadian Forces families, particularly given the increased deployment tempo of the past year. C/MFRCs utilized this invaluable resource to meet the operational requirements of the CF through the provision of childcare services. As a result, C/MFRCs have provided timely emergency assistance to families, as well as additional respite care during periods of extended separation.

Mission Information Line

	"THE SEPTEMBER 11th TRAGEDY...GENERATED APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MIL CALLS PER MONTH."

Given the events of the past year, the Mission Information Line (MIL) was a useful and valued resource for CF families. The September 11th tragedy, and subsequent deployment of Canadian troops to Afghanistan, generated approximately 10,000 MIL calls in one month. The terrorist attacks also provided an opportunity to increase the scope of the MIL. For example:

• Troops deployed on ships could contact their families and friends online, providing them with relevant information and assistance.
• MIL operating hours were extended for a period of six months in order to accommodate the increased demand for support by families of deployed CF members in all time zones.
• The Student Deployment Journal/Activity Book, which has proven to be extremely popular, was added to the MIL list of publications.
• A second publication targeted at pre-schoolers is scheduled for release in 2002/2003.

Deployment Services

Increased deployments in 2001/2002 required service providers at all levels of the organization to cooperate in support of the families of CF members. C/MFRC Prevention and Intervention counsellors travelled to centres where they were most needed. Increased financial support from DMFS enabled C/MFRCs to provide additional information, resources, childcare, and other services directly to families. The high demand for services tested the depth of our commitment, the resilience of our organization, and the resourcefulness of our service providers. Through cooperation we demonstrated that we could meet the challenge.

Virtual Services

Developing a web site that provides CF families in various parts of Europe with information and resources has been challenging. However, the project is nearing completion, and the launch is scheduled for 2002/2003.

Second Language Training

The Second Language Training (SLT) curriculum was partially revised in 2001 to make it family-based and more user-friendly. The success of the service, and the acknowledgement of the value of the new curriculum, is evident by the outstanding rates of participation.

• More than 3,000 civilian spouses of Canadian Forces members participated in Second Language Training in 2001 at Canadian/Military Family Resource Centres across Canada and Europe.