The Bugle Boy www.southcom.mil/usag-miami/mwr.html
May/June 2011
Volunteering leads to Position With South Florida Military Access Portals for Supports and Services (SF MAPS) 1
SPOTLIGHT: FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERING
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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WHAT’S UP IN SOUTH FLORIDA
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FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER NEWS
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WHAT’S UP IN FAMILY & MWR
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GOING GREEN
15 SPOUSES’ CORNER / WHO’S WHO 16 FAMILY & MWR FUN BUS TRIPS
United States Army Garrison-Miami Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation 9301 NW 33rd Street Doral, Florida 33172 305.437.2665 Sign up for FMWR E-mails and Send Your Customer Comments to: Mwrcustomerservice@ hq.southcom.mil
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by Andrea McBride
As the spouse of a Reservist, it can sometimes be difficult to feel included in the military lifestyle and community. With my husband back from his third deployment, starting work at USSOUTHCOM last summer, and me getting ready to organize yet another military move, I realized I should be doing something more with my fellow military families. Once settled in Miami, I decided to contact Mary Ortiz, Volunteer Coordinator, after receiving our first issue of The Bugle Boy. Her description of services designed specifically for spouses immediately captured my attention. I thought, “This is it! I can make connections, network, do some good, and get out of the house for a few hours each week.” On my first day, I was greeted with open arms by the entire Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation department, and made instantly to feel welcome and part of the team. Mary and the staff helped me jump right into activities and education to parts of the military lifestyle that Guard and Reservists might not otherwise have access to. After a short time there, Joe Pagan, Employment Readiness/Transition Assistance representative, informed me he had received an e-mail for a job opportunity in which my background would be perfect. I was directed to the University of Miami’s Mailman Center for Child Development (MCCD) to assist military families with developmentally disabled children. “What a truly wonderful way to now serve the military community which has so humbly served me and our Nation,” I thought.
That is where I met Antoinette (Toni) Hill, MBA, Voluntary Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Director of Parent and Family Leadership, MCCD at the University of Miami (UM). She is a military spouse and the mother of a young adult with developmental disabilities, and knows all too well both sides of the fence when it comes to locating the health care, schools, recreation programs, and therapies that come with frequent military moves. Seeing a need she could help fulfill, she created SF MAPS stating, “There is a huge need in South Florida to help military families who have a child with developmental disabilities get the services they need and are entitled to.” SF MAPS is part of the Family Support 360 started by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). SF MAPS Project 360 for Military Families was established in 2009 as a partnership between MCCD and U.S. Army Garrison-Miami. Working in conjunction with UM’s MCCD, the project is designed to help military families with a developmentally disabled child locate and connect with the resources and services they need. Funded through a 5-year Federal grant, all services are provided absolutely free of charge to families. Last year, TRICARE and UM joined forces creating a new network of more than 1,100 providers within South Florida. As we all know, frequent moves and recurring deployments are difficult enough. Imagine, then having a child with disabilities or chronic health care needs, and trying to continually locate community resources with each new move. The role of the SF MAPS program is to help bridge the gap between military services and community services. continued on page 4