Army Community Service promotes self-reliance, resiliency, stability
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - The Army Community Service Program, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, offers community-oriented, social service programs that help Soldiers and their families.
Ranging from teaching new spouses about the Army to how to save money, ACS offers a wide variety of programs and classes. Call ACS at 808-655-4227 or visit <a href="http://www.mwrarmyhawaii.com">www.mwrarmyhawaii.com</a> to learn more about the classes and programs:
Relocation Readiness
Relocation Readiness assistance helps Soldiers and family members minimize challenges that typically occur during relocation. Soldiers and families can request pre-arrival information; use lending closet services; and participate in cultural adaptation programs, such as the island tour, English as a second language programs, citizenship immigration services and newcomer orientations.
Volunteer Programs
Army Volunteer Corps serves as a coordinating body to connect those who want to fulfill a need in the community to the organizations that are in need of volunteer services.
Army Family Team Building
Army Family Team Building increases military knowledge, develops leadership skills and helps integrate families into the Army community.
Army Family Action Plan
The Army Family Action Plan is an Armywide program that improves the Army families' quality of life. Through AFAP, concerns are expressed to Army leadership, along with recommendations for change. The 2011 Installation AFAP Conference will be held Feb. 8-11, 2011. To submit an issue or to volunteer in support of the AFAP Conference, call 808-655-1657.
Family Advocacy Program
Family Advocacy Program provides prevention and education workshops that help Soldiers and families with anger awareness, stress reduction, communication and parenting. FAP is committed to the prevention of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect by providing a variety of services to strengthen Army families and enhance resiliency.
New Parent Support Programx
The New Parent Support Program provides caring and supportive support, home-visiting services and a variety of classes to Army families with children from birth to 5 years old.
Exceptional Family Member Program
The Exceptional Family Member Program coordinates community support to help families with special needs. Support includes help with obtaining housing, meeting medical and educational needs, as well as securing respite care services. Monthly support groups are offered in conjunction with Chapel Family Nights, at both Schofield Barracks and the Aliamanu Military Reservation Chapel. Recreational activities are coordinated monthly, and alternate between bowling and swimming activities.
Employment Readiness Program
The Employment Readiness Program helps spouses in acquiring skills, networking and obtaining resources that help alleviate stress and anxiety associated with job searching and career planning. Each week, ERP offers an employment orientation to welcome spouses to the Pacific region and provides information and resources on the employment culture in Hawaii. Spouses learn important details about how to start their job search, develop their resume, as well as tips on interviewing and attending job fairs.
Financial Readiness Program
The Financial Readiness Program provides comprehensive educational and counseling services in personal financial readiness. A key program of financial readiness is Financial Peace University, in partnership with the Schofield Barracks Chapel. During this 13-week, life-changing course, participants learn how to get control of their money, stop struggling to make ends meet and change their family's financial future.
The register for future Financial Peace University classes go to <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/military/home">www.daveramsey.com/military/home</a>, find a class, enter the zip code (or search Hawaii), scroll to Schofield Barracks and click register.
Soldier and Family Assistance Center
The Soldier and Family Assistance Center provides exclusive services for wounded warriors in a centralized and easy-to-access location. SFAC aims to minimize the stress on Soldiers and families to allow the Soldier to heal in order to return to duty or to transition into successful civilian lives. The Schofield Barracks SFAC is unique in having added resources such as National Guard and Army Reserve transition assistance, Social Security, Tricare and different Veterans Affairs representatives.
Survivor Outreach Services
The Survivor Outreach Services program connects with families of the fallen to ensure that they are continually linked to the Army family for as long as they desire. SOS fosters resiliency and ensures access to all entitled benefits, financial counseling/planning and long-term support.
The newly dedicated SOS Center, Halia Aloha (meaning cherished or loving memory), is located at the Aloha Center, Building 330, Fort Shafter. Support group meetings are held each month. Call 808-438-9285 or 808-438-4499.
(Editor's Note: This article appeared in the Hawaii Army Weekly's Oct. 29 special insert on the Army Family Covenant. Click <a href="http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/special-inserts/">here</a> to view the entire 8-page feature.)
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