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New Year, New Enhancements for Military Family Services
Beginning a new year means looking forward, and looking back – reviewing the year gone by, and embracing the changes to come.
This January marks an additional turning point for Canadian Forces (CF) family services. It’s been one year since the enhancement of the Military Family Services Program (MFSP) began, so it’s time to take stock of the transformation work completed in 2008 and anticipate what 2009 will bring.
“Transformation for us is about recognizing the stress we, as an employer, place on the CF family, and trying to mitigate those challenges as much as we can,” says Celine Thompson, Director Military Family Services (DMFS). “All of our families show a great deal of resilience, but this lifestyle comes with unique stressors, and we need to respond to them.”
Although MFSP: Parameters for Practice and the Memorandum of Understanding served to redesign family services in 2004, the Military Family Services Program has not fundamentally evolved since the late 1990s. Canadian/Military Family Resource Centres (C/MFRCs) have responded locally to evolving family needs, but it became evident that the MFSP was due for more substantial change and growth at the national level.
“One of the key drivers for enhancement has been the increased operational tempo of the CF,” says Celine. “Perhaps because of this increased tempo, there has been a review of the business of family services, and an increased level of interest and commitment from the CF.”
DMFS spent 2008 gathering information and advice on enhancing the MFSP. They hosted forums to consult with military families and convened Advisory Committees and Working Groups composed of CF family members, MFSP stakeholders and subject matter experts.
“When we started asking questions, there was this huge outpouring of information and suggestions,” Celine continues. “And that’s really been the driving force for us – the contributions we’ve received from stakeholders and our family forums have been the most significant part of our work so far.”
The Advisory Committees and Working Groups have drafted recommendations for enhancing CF family child care, health care, mental health and social support, deployment and reunion, education and employment services. In 2009, DMFS will begin to use these recommendations to transform MFSP policies and programs, giving C/MFRCs the tools to be more responsive to the needs of today’s military families.
“C/MFRCs can expect a really enhanced suite of services,” says Celine. “This will provide them not only with the resources they need to do their jobs, but will also help them develop better communication and partnerships with the CF.”
To kick off the next phase of enhancement work, DMFS is hosting the CF Family Services Summit II in Ottawa from 23-25 January.
“The Summit is a great opportunity to come together, hear what the stakeholders have to say, and validate the work that’s been done,” Celine says. She hopes that the Summit will provide positive responses to the enhancement work completed so far and useful guidance for what next steps should be taken as enhancement recommendations become realities.
“I think there’s been incredible progress,” she says. “And there are more exciting times ahead!”
