AUGUST 2019
In this Issue... August is National Immunization Awareness Month Steps To A Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition Armed Forces Travel Summer Sale Ready For Back To School? Women’s Equality Day is August 26 National Purple Heart Day Visit National Parks! New Spouse Licensure and Certification Reimbursement Policy Military Spouses Should Plan for Retirement, Too New Parent Support Program Is On A Mission Visit us online at:
Fleet and Family Support Program Celebrates Four Decades of Service BY TIM MCGOUGH, COMMANDER, NAVY INSTALLATIONS COMMAND FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM Commander, Navy Installations Command’s (CNIC) Fleet and Family Support Program (FFSP) celebrated 40 years of service to Sailors and their families at a ceremony held at CNIC headquarters on the Washington Navy Yard on July 16. Personnel from CNIC headquarters and Naval District Washington, along with numerous special guests and some members from the original Navy Family Service Center (FSC) came together to mark the day. Guest speaker Dr. Ann O’Keefe started working with the Navy in October 1978. She was the first program director when the first center opened its doors in Norfolk, Va., in 1979, after the idea for a service center grew out of the Family Awareness Conference held the previous year. “From my perspective as the first director of the Navy Family Support Program, I can say wholeheartedly that you are all doing a great job,” said O’Keefe. “You have adjusted the program over the years as new challenges emerged. You have kept the program seaworthy.” A Navy captain, chaplain, seven active-duty personnel, 10 civilian employees and a local ombudsman chairperson staffed the first FSC. The center also worked closely with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, American Red Cross, Navy wives organizations and commands. “We set out from the beginning to provide proactive and educational programs that kept Sailors and families healthy and strong,” O’Keefe added. “People thought it [FSC] would be just another flash in the pan. They said, ‘why should I get involved? It will just go away.’” The program persevered. Over the next decade, other areas of support programs were added. The staff transformed to a diverse mix of full-time appropriated funds civilian personnel, non-appropriated funds (NAF) civilians and contract employees.
Family Connection is a publication of the Fleet and Family Support Program. The Navy’s Fleet and Family Support Program promotes the self-reliance and resilience of Sailors and their families. We provide information that can help you meet the unique challenges of the military lifestyle. The appearance of external links in this newsletter does not constitute official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense. If you have questions or comments, contact the Fleet and Family Support Program, cnic.ffsp.fct@navy.mil.
In 2001, the name changed from Navy Family Service Center to Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) to emphasize that the center was to support the Sailor and the family. In 2002, FFSC incorporated a new lighthouse logo and theme line: “Meeting Your Needs At Home, At Sea.” The new logo was designed to give the centers a uniform identity at naval bases around the globe. The lighthouse logo still beacons the doors of centers worldwide. Today, the Fleet and Family Support Program continues to deliver the best services at the right time in the right place.
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ATTENTION READERS: Make Family Connections Interactive! Share your questions, comments, good news stories, useful resources and articles you have written or found helpful. As space allows, we will include them in future newsletters OR release on social media. Submit to cnic.ffsp.fct@navy.mil
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AUGUST 2019 Continued from Page 1.
“I feel great pride and humility that our centers serving our Navy families today are staffed with the finest professionals to help strengthen the resiliency of our Sailors and their families and the lethality of our Navy,” said Shauna Turner, the current program director. For more information on the Navy’s Fleet and Family Support Program visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffsp. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NavyFFSP.
WASHINGTON (July 16, 2019) Dr. Ann O’Keefe Ed.D., first director of the Navy Family Support Program, speaks to Sailors and civilian employees during a 40th anniversary celebration of the Fleet & Family Support Program in CNIC Headquarters at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Morales/Released)
WASHINGTON (July 16, 2019) CNIC Chief of Staff Capt. Brad Collins, left, and Navy Family Readiness Director Shauna L. Turner, right, present a gift to Dr. Ann O’Keefe Ed.D., first director of the Navy Family Support Program, during a 40th anniversary celebration of the Fleet and Family Support Program in CNIC Headquarters at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Morales/Released)
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AUGUST 2019
August is National Immunization Awareness Month Americans of all ages protect themselves from serious diseases by receiving routine and scheduled immunizations recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help keep our community safe, the Navy is proudly participating in National Immunization Awareness Month. Vaccines can prevent serious diseases like the flu, measles and pneumonia. It is important to know which shots you need and when to get them. Everyone six months of age and older needs to get a flu vaccine every year. Other immunizations are important at specific ages or life stages. Use the following tools to see if you and your family are on track: Learn which shots your child under six years old needs with this quiz. Take
this quiz to find out which shots you need as an adult.
Use
this scheduling chart for adults to see if you are up-to-date on your vaccinations.
Find
out the recommended immunizations for pregnant women with this chart.
Talk to your Primary Care Manager (PCM) or your Military Treatment Facility (MTF) provider to make sure that everyone in your family gets the vaccinations they need. TRICARE covers the cost of age-appropriate vaccines, minus only your co-payment or cost-share for the office visit. Many vaccines are also available at participating retail network pharmacies. Visit here to find the location of a TRICAREparticipating pharmacy. To learn more, visit your nearest MTF or find out more about immunizations covered by TRICARE at www.tricare.mil.
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AUGUST 2019
Steps To A Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition When we think of “transition” in the military, we focus on the end of a military career. However, preparing for your career “transition” begins when you enter military service. Considering your future civilian career throughout your military career is the most successful transition plan. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is here to help and provides valuable resources and an array of support services to all Sailors and their families throughout active duty and during your transition to the civilian workforce. TAP suggests developing a plan for your military-to-civilian transition early in your military career. It is never too soon to enhance employment skills, build experiences to add to your resume and prepare transition budgets. Your family members can benefit from these career-enhancing skills as well! When you are nearing transition, TAP has a variety of workshops to make your transition a breeze. To better help you prepare, TAP is changing their service model on October 1, 2019. The new TAP service delivery model will guide you through the following steps to help you make a successful transition from military to civilian life: Step 1: Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) – Visit FFSCs throughout your military career to receive information about the installation, local area, community involvement, workshops and available support services.* Step 2: Initial self-assessment — When you begin to think about separating or retiring, contact a Command Career Counselor (CCC) or the FFSC to receive information about how to complete your career path self-assessment. Ideally, you should start at least two years out, but not less than one year before your official separation date.* Step 3: Pre-separation counseling — Attend your congressionally mandated briefing or one-on-one session provided by a CCC or FFSC staff member prior to attending a transition workshop.
Step 4: Transition workshop — Attend the transition workshop to assist you with meeting your Career Readiness Standards (CRS) by completing the DoD overview, resiliency, financial management, veterans benefits and Department of Labor workshops. Step 5: Capstone event — This last required step verifies you have received all the valuable information and have a plan in place for a successful transition. Transitions can sometimes be challenging. The sooner you start preparing for life after the military, the smoother and more successful your transition will be. Every Sailor and family deserves a healthy, balanced transition to civilian life. *Initial self-assessment is going to be required after October 1, 2019. *https://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_ support_program/FFSC.html
Armed Forces Travel Summer Sale Need another reason to travel? Armed Forces Travel is having an end-of-summer sale! You can get up to 60% off hotel stays. Did you know that they sell event tickets too? You can find event tickets with no service fees or shipping fees. Wow! American Forces Travel offers valuable member pricing for the DoD community. Booking leisure travel at a deep discount is now simple. Visit Armed Forces Travel to get started.
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AUGUST 2019
Ready For Back To School? LET BACK-TO-SCHOOL BRIGADE 2019 HELP! Operation Homefront supports military families by offering a back-to-school supply distribution every summer. Since the organization’s founding, Operation Homefront has distributed more than 350,000 backpacks to military children. Their mission is to help alleviate some of the financial costs for families by providing backpacks filled with a variety of school supplies including pens, pencils, paper, scissors and binders. Operation Homefront volunteers have collected supplies and will distribute them to military families at Back-toSchool Brigade events across the nation in August. School supply costs increase every year. In 2018, families spent an average of $510 for school supplies. Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray, Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront, said “I am incredibly proud to say we will reach our 375,000th backpack milestone and will have saved military families over $40 million in back-to-school expenses.”
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Visit https://www.operationhomefront.org/event/list to view a full list of the backpack distribution events, along with eligibility and registration information. Please note that this event is for DEERS-enrolled military dependent children who will be in kindergarten through grade 12 in the 2019-2020 school year. Identification of all registered children will be required the day of the event.
INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? Visit www.operationhomefront.org/contactus and submit the Get In Touch form to link to your local field office.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BRIGADE LOCATIONS Pensacola, Fla. August 1, 2–6 p.m. Atlantic Beach, Fla. August 9, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Corpus Christi, Texas August 9, 2–6 p.m. San Antonio, Texas August 10, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Ventura, Calif. August 10, 1–2:30 p.m. Fort Worth, Texas August 14, 4–7 p.m. Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst, N.J. August 15, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Portsmouth, Va. August 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. San Diego, Calif. August 17, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Norfolk, Va. August 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Hampton, Va. August 17, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Bremerton, Wash. August 19, 4–7 p.m. Groton, Conn. August 21, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Oak Harbor, Wash. August 22, 4–6 p.m.
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AUGUST 2019
Women’s Equality Day is August 26 Congress designated the observance of Women’s Equality Day on August 26 in 1973. Women’s Equality Day celebrates the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The observance now celebrates women’s continued efforts toward gaining full social and economic equality. This poster, released by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, highlights the 36 states making up the two-thirds majority that ratified the 19th Amendment. Women’s Equality Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the many roles of women in our nation and the benefits of true equality.
National Purple Heart Day AUGUST 7 A special day to honor those wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
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AUGUST 2019
Visit National Parks! Each year, more than 20 million national and state park enthusiasts read the American Park Network guides. This year the American Park Network collaborated with the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Community Recreation Program to provide the military community with national and state park guides free. American Park Network guides have helped outdoor enthusiasts plan their adventures to parks and monuments across the country for more than 30 years. Each guide is packed with helpful information and beautiful graphic images, covering everything you need to know to make your next outdoor adventure unforgettable. The guides contain park contact information, directions, amenities, maps and schedules for events. Inside you will find recommended locations for hiking, camping, boating, birding, nature centers, historic sites and so much more. The following park guides are available at your local MWR Community Recreation Ticket and Travel Office for free: Acadia Great Smoky Mountains Arizona
State Parks
Hills, Badlands and Mount Rushmore
Illinois
State Parks
Black
Mount
Ellis
National
Glacier
New
Glen
Rocky
Island and the Statue of Liberty Canyon, Lake Powell and Lake Mead
Grand
Canyon
Grand
Teton
Great
Outdoor Adventures for climbing destinations
Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. York State Parks Mountain
Sequoia
and Kings Canyon
Southern
California’s Parks and Public Lands
Yellowstone Yosemite
JOIN US LIVE! WEBINARS ARE OPEN TO ALL SAILORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. Navigating Stress for Navy Families August 7 at 6 p.m. EDT Stress is normal and even necessary for survival; however, too much stress may cause individuals and families to be in crisis. Discover new ways to approach Navy life stressors in this informative webinar. Effective Communication in the Military Family August 8 at 1 p.m. EDT Do you ever hear, “you’re not listening to me” at home? You are not alone. The discussion in this webinar will deliver ways to listen and communicate clearly, so that your family knows you really understand them. It’s a win for the whole family! Chief Spouse Selectee Webinars August 12 at 8 p.m. EDT August 15 at 1 p.m. EDT August 20 at 8 p.m. EDT Congratulations on your Navy spouse’s selection for Chief! What does that mean for you and your family? This training will successfully guide Chief selectee spouses through the changes and challenges of their spouse’s initiation process. Deployment: Navigating Your New Normal August 21 at 2 p.m. EDT Are you gearing up for a deployment or just want to know more about what to expect when your loved one deploys? The presenter will highlight the key aspects of planning for deployment, including ways to prepare your children and adjusting to life without your Sailor. Register Today! For a full list of topics or more information, visit: Fleet and Family Support Program's Live Well Resiliency Webinars website. Do you have a suggestion for a Live Well topic? Send us an email: Live Well Resiliency Webinar Suggestions.
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AUGUST 2019
Military Spouses Should Plan for Retirement, Too A recent study by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies highlights some shocking facts about women and retirement. While women generally live longer than men do, only 10 percent feel confident about their retirement. The average woman has only saved $34,000 at the time of retirement and most women do not have a backup retirement plan. Given that the unemployment rate for military spouses is at least four times higher than the national average, military spouses in their prime working years are contributing even less toward their retirement.
RETIREMENT SURVIVOR BENEFITS
SAVE AS AN INDIVIDUAL
Many military spouses do not realize that retired pay stops when a service member dies unless the military member opted to pay into the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). Even if a service member opted to pay SBP premiums, the widow or widower will receive at most 55 percent of retired base pay. So what can military spouses do to ensure that they are moving in the right direction for retirement?
Non-working military spouses are eligible to set up individual retirement accounts (IRA) in their own names, even if they do not have earned income. This can be a great way for stay-at-home spouses to start accumulating retirement savings. Spouses can contribute to either a Roth or a traditional IRA. Service members may also be eligible to contribute to either type of IRA in addition to TSP.
SAVE AT WORK
KEY TO SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT SAVING
Spouses who work outside the home should contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan if they are eligible for it. Even if the active duty member is saving through the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a spouse should have retirement savings of his or her own, especially if employer-matched contributions are available.
Whether a military family is saving for an emergency or saving for retirement, the key to success lies in making regular, automatic contributions. Even if a family can afford to put only $25 per month into a spousal IRA, that is a start. Any money invested earns additional money over time and will more than repay the investor.
Do you want help saving for retirement or reaching other savings goals? Come in for a no-cost appointment with a Personal Financial Management staff member at a Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) near you. For the location nearest to you, visit the FFSC's website.
Spouse Employment Corner NEW SPOUSE LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION REIMBURSEMENT POLICY The Navy has just released a new reimbursement policy to improve the Navy spouse experience. The Navy’s spouse licensure and certification reimbursement policy authorizes reimbursement of up to $500 for an eligible spouse who paid to transfer a license or certification to a different state. Sailors are eligible for reimbursement of spouse relicensing costs if they and their spouse meet the following requirements: The Sailor executed permanent change of duty station (PCS) orders to a different state. The
orders authorized dependents to accompany the Sailor.
The
spouse was employed in a profession requiring a certification at the previous duty station.
The
spouse is required to obtain re-certification for the same profession at the new duty station.
The
spouse completed the relicense or certification.
For those families returning from overseas, spouses are eligible if they held a license from a state prior to their overseas tour and new assignment is in a different state. Navy families face unique challenges; have varying requirements and distinct needs. The Navy is dedicated to supporting our families and providing resources and advocacy for spouse employment. By supporting Navy families, we are able to meet our mission and maintain maritime superiority. You can find more information about the new policy and application procedures at the Navy Personnel Command website.
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AUGUST 2019
New Parent Support Program Is On A Mission TO SAVE LIVES OF NAVY BABIES THROUGH SLEEP SAFE EFFORTS Some 3,500 U.S. babies die each year from sleeprelated causes, according to the CDC. Causes of death including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and deaths from unknown causes. Accidental suffocation accounted for about 900 infant deaths in 2017. Research has shown that babies are at a significantly higher risk for accidental death while sleeping in an adult bed. Bed-sharing is the most common cause of death for babies three months and younger.
REDUCE THE RISK Below are a few guidelines for parents and caregivers that reduce the risk for accidental sleep-related deaths: Share your room but NOT your bed. Always
place your baby on his or her back to sleep for naps and at night.
Use Let
a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet.
your baby sleep alone in their own sleeping area.
Keep
soft objects, toys, crib bumpers and blankets out of your baby’s sleep area.
Use
a dry pacifier not attached to a string.
The Navy’s New Parent Support Program (NPSP) is available to newly and expecting military parents to assist with the transition into parenthood. NPS educators and home visitors help parents provide a safe, nurturing environment for their children. NPSP services are open to military families at no cost, and include: Prenatal classes. Parenting Home
classes.
visits.
Playgroups. Referrals
to other resources.
Visit the New Parent Support Program’s website to find a local NPSP specialist near you.
All Babies Deserve to Sleep Safely. Reduce the Risks. Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed when they follow the
3 steps for baby safe sleep.
1 2 3
Share your room and not your bed, because adult beds are not designed for infant safety and room sharing prevents accidental suffocation. Always place your baby on their back while sleeping. When babies sleep on their backs it reduces the risk for SIDS and other sleeprelated incidents. Always place your baby on firm bedding with fitted sheets. Remove all loose objects from the sleeping area.
To learn more about how babies sleep safely, visit
www.ffsp.navy.mil.
Parents & Caregivers Safe Sleep_DH_3.5x8.5.indd 1
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