A Look at Military Families Edison Electric Institute EEI Best Practices Workshop

2. Overview Profile of the Military Community Family Deployment Support Military OneSource The Severely Injured Heroes to Hometowns Success stories

3. Profile of the MilitaryCommunity

4. Family Support/Assistance Centers Installations & Virtual Rear Detachment Commands Unit Family Support & Readiness Groups Service Relief Societies/Non-profits Counseling Military Family Life Consultants, Military OneSource Web Portals: Military HomeFront (www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil) Military OneSource (www.militaryonesource.com) America Supports You (www.americasupportsyou.mil)

6. Range of Support Counseling � Need to Talk? Money Matters � Hot Issue Tax Filing On Line Federal and State Children & Youth Deployment Spouse Training, Education & Career Legal Matters What for? Spouse Training, Education & Careers Children & Youth Parenting Children's Education Money Matters Special Needs Smooth Moves (Relocation) Lifelong Learning Trauma, Crisis & Violence Deployment Legal Matters Addiction & Recovery Substance Abuse Other Addictions Elder Care Military 101 Transition to Civilian Life Healthy Habits Shopping and Services What for? Spouse Training, Education & Careers Children & Youth Parenting Children's Education Money Matters Special Needs Smooth Moves (Relocation) Lifelong Learning Trauma, Crisis & Violence Deployment Legal Matters Addiction & Recovery Substance Abuse Other Addictions Elder Care Military 101 Transition to Civilian Life Healthy Habits Shopping and Services

7. Financial Readiness Campaign�A culture that saves & builds wealth� Create a military culture that values financial competency and responsible behavior Increase competency in management of personal finance Protect consumers from unscrupulous sales practices (payday lending) Enhance mission/deployment readiness Financial stability is another issue that we see impacting various aspects of family life. Undoubtedly we find good personal financial behavior can make an enormous difference when coping with other challenges of the military lifestyle. Financial Readiness (a term coined by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness) was chosen as one of the major issues to be defined in the new social compact describing the relationship between the Department of Defense, Service members and their families. The compact for personal finance envisioned a culture where personal financial readiness is a valued characteristic. Or said another way, a Service member isn�t ready until he or she is financially ready. A key factor in this proposed culture change was to also allow Service members to understand making financial mistakes is not a character flaw, but a correctable situation, through education and counseling that can result in positive behavior change. The focus is on reducing the stress associated with financial problems � because the stress is what is seen impacting family life and mission readiness. The intention is not necessarily to make everyone a millionaire It is to ensure they have the abilities to make good financial choices, such as setting aside savings and not living a lifestyle dependent on debt. It is also to prepare them and protect them from predators, because military families may be doing all the right things and still have financial problems as a result of an unscrupulous deal. Financial stability is another issue that we see impacting various aspects of family life. Undoubtedly we find good personal financial behavior can make an enormous difference when coping with other challenges of the military lifestyle. Financial Readiness (a term coined by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness) was chosen as one of the major issues to be defined in the new social compact describing the relationship between the Department of Defense, Service members and their families. The compact for personal finance envisioned a culture where personal financial readiness is a valued characteristic. Or said another way, a Service member isn�t ready until he or she is financially ready. A key factor in this proposed culture change was to also allow Service members to understand making financial mistakes is not a character flaw, but a correctable situation, through education and counseling that can result in positive behavior change. The focus is on reducing the stress associated with financial problems � because the stress is what is seen impacting family life and mission readiness. The intention is not necessarily to make everyone a millionaire It is to ensure they have the abilities to make good financial choices, such as setting aside savings and not living a lifestyle dependent on debt. It is also to prepare them and protect them from predators, because military families may be doing all the right things and still have financial problems as a result of an unscrupulous deal.

8. Top issues affecting military families for visibility/action at the State level Care of the Guard and Reserves In-State Tuition School Transition & Deployment Support Payday Lending Spouse employment Unemployment Compensation #2 on the list: Assistance to Severely Injured Service Members and Families To illustrate DoD�s commitment to our severely injured, I�d like to share with you what we call the DoD �Top Ten� list - not really anything you�d find on David Letterman, but important nonetheless. The Top Ten list shown here are those ten key issues and challenges facing military families today that the Department has been working for the last two years on the State level with governors, legislators, and other state entities to both raise awareness and secure support. The DoD State Liaison Office headed by George Schaefer has been very aggressive in working these issues at National Governors Association conferences and other meetings of state officials. You can see some of the issues here, and we�ll be happy to provide copies of the entire list to you, but you�ll note that #2 on the list is �Assistance to Severely Injured Service Members and Families�. The reason for this is that caring for these men and women is not just a DoD issue; there are critical roles to be played by other federal agencies and the states and individual communities that these members return home to. To illustrate DoD�s commitment to our severely injured, I�d like to share with you what we call the DoD �Top Ten� list - not really anything you�d find on David Letterman, but important nonetheless. The Top Ten list shown here are those ten key issues and challenges facing military families today that the Department has been working for the last two years on the State level with governors, legislators, and other state entities to both raise awareness and secure support. The DoD State Liaison Office headed by George Schaefer has been very aggressive in working these issues at National Governors Association conferences and other meetings of state officials. You can see some of the issues here, and we�ll be happy to provide copies of the entire list to you, but you�ll note that #2 on the list is �Assistance to Severely Injured Service Members and Families�. The reason for this is that caring for these men and women is not just a DoD issue; there are critical roles to be played by other federal agencies and the states and individual communities that these members return home to.

10. Long-term Needs Financial Support Employment/Education Assistance Health Care assistance Service-specific issues Family support Child Care Counseling Community Support

11. Military Service Support Service programs: Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Marine for Life Injured Support (M4L-IS) Navy SAFE HARBOR Air Force Palace HART Case management approach Assigned case manager Tailored assistance/resource coordination Long-term support (5+ years after discharge)

12. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Eligibility criteria 30% PEB rating due to single severe injury AW2-designated Soldiers All components, all statuses (active, retired, etc) �Soldier-Family Management Specialist� (SFMS) Concierge/Advisor/Advocate Track & Assist Local & Regional presence Long Term Support after Military Service

13. Federal support: Traumatic Serviceman�s Group Life Insurance Special Pay continuation Invitational Travel & Non-medical attendant orders Dept of Veterans Affairs, Dept of Labor, other programs Non-Governmental Organizations:

14. Continuation of Military Service Federal government opportunities www.GoDefense.com Other Federal benefits: Veterans Affairs Voc-Rehab Program Dept of Labor REALifelines Program Hiring Heroes Job Fairs The Corporate World Response www.Military.com/Support Educational Opportunities University of Idaho, Grantham University

15. Goal: Facilitate successful community reintegration Restore highest functioning quality of life Assist in meeting long-term needs Educate the community; ease transition home for all The Role of the �Local Champion� Charter �State� Collaboration/Partners American Legion Memorandum of Understanding National Guard Bureau National Association State Directors of VA Long-term support Recovery, rehabilitation, reintegration

16. Heroes to HometownsCommunity Role Welcome Home severely injured Service Members and families Work with Local, State and National organizations to match potential needs with resources: Organize a welcome home celebration Help secure temporary and/or permanent housing Assist in adapting a home or vehicle Find jobs and educational opportunities Create a carpool for hospital visits Help work through government bureaucracy Create community pride by providing community, spiritual, and family support The community�s role will be to match potential needs with potential donors or resources. The intent is not to absolve the government of its responsibilities. The goal is to make sure they are first afforded all the DoD, VA, DOL, HUD entitlements. Then help meet the needs that are over and above the entitlements. Some examples of these needs are the ones listed. Some families may only need a little help, some may need it all. The community�s role will be to match potential needs with potential donors or resources. The intent is not to absolve the government of its responsibilities. The goal is to make sure they are first afforded all the DoD, VA, DOL, HUD entitlements. Then help meet the needs that are over and above the entitlements. Some examples of these needs are the ones listed. Some families may only need a little help, some may need it all.

17. Heroes to HometownsNetwork

18. Sentinels of Freedom San Ramon, CA Still Serving Veterans Huntsville, AL GWOT local NGO Escambia County, FL Elverson, PA

19. Connect service member to H2H network Be a local champion Serve on a local H2H committee Employment: Network with VA, DoL, State for available opportunities Network with corporate America Notify/coordinate with H2H committee Remember the families Be an advocate

22. Questions?