Army Family Advocacy Program

What is it?

The Army Family Advocacy Program is the Army’s prevention and response program for domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and problematic sexual behavior of children and youth. The program supports readiness by providing education and services to strengthen Army Families, enhance healthy life skills, and promote nurturing environments for children and youth, with the goal of preventing abuse.

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

The first Army child abuse prevention program started in 1967 at Fort Bliss, and was formalized as the Family Advocacy Program in 1981 with the publication of DOD Directive 6400.01. This program responds to child and domestic abuse incidents, coordinates the community response and provides prevention and treatment services. Commanders and community members are encouraged to be vigilant and report suspected incidents to their installation’s Family Advocacy Program reporting point of contact.

Family Advocacy Program services include:

• Prevention education: Supports relationship, parenting and resiliency skills.
• New Parent Support Program: Provides in home services for Families with children age zero to three.
• Victim advocacy: 24/7 services for survivors of domestic violence, providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and locating safe shelter.
• Training for unit commanders and first responders: Explains the dynamics of abuse, the risk factors associated with domestic violence and child abuse, and their roles in local response protocols.
• Coordination of a multidisciplinary response: For abuse incidents, including medical, legal, command, law enforcement, and community agencies.
• Trauma informed assessments, offender intervention, and evidence-based treatment for Families effected by abuse.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army Family Advocacy Program is broadening command and community engagement to prevent and respond to domestic violence and child abuse. Key efforts include:

• Engaging parents, schools and youth programs to understand and address problematic sexual behavior of children and youth.
• Safe sleep education - targeting the most preventable cause of Army child deaths, unsafe sleep environments for infants.
• Expanding command roles and responsibilities in the Army’s incident determination process.

Why is this important to the Army?

Family violence is a threat to the health, welfare and safety of Soldiers and Family members, and it severely degrades warfighter readiness. The Army Family Advocacy Program helps strengthen Army Families, enhancing resiliency and relationship skills, improving quality of life.

Resources:

• DCS G9
• DCS G9 Soldier and Family Readiness Programs
• FIND: Family Advocacy Program
• Army MWR: Family Advocacy Program
• Family Advocacy Program Clinical Services
• DoD Family Advocacy Program
• DCS G9 Soldier and Family Readiness Programs

Related document:

• DOD Directive 6400.01