Consultant program begins at ACC family readiness centers

  • Published
  • By David Hopper
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) --  Eleven Air Combat Command bases will start using a new Military and Family Life Consultant Program by April 28 to meet the emerging needs of active duty Airmen, guardsmen, reservists and their family members.

The new program will provide workshops and nonmedical, short-term counseling services to help Airmen and their families to cope with stressful situations created by deployments and reintegration, said Ira LeGrande, the Air Combat Command community readiness policy analyst.

The program will be conducted by licensed clinicians with master degrees, and they will work in conjunction with Airman and Family Readiness Center staffs. Each consultant is contracted to work for the Air Force for 45 consecutive days with a two-day cross over. These licensed clinicians typically have their own private practice or are part of a practice team.

Air Force officials said this counseling program is designed to address issues that occur across the military lifestyle. The military and family life consultants will assist members and their families with coping skills, conflict resolution, loss, grief, family issues, relationships, deployment stress, parent-child communication, family separations, reunion and reintegration, Mrs. LeGrande said.

The consultants will assist Airmen and their families reduce stress through informal support. They will also provide psycho-educational presentations and facilitate groups on issues that affect Airmen and their families in their personal and professional lives.

Communication with consultants will be anonymous except when state, federal and military reporting requirements dictate otherwise for protection of personnel. Additionally, consultants will have cell phones making them accessible to Airmen or their family members for individual support.

The Military and Family Life Consultant Program began at five ACC bases April 14 and is set to begin at six bases April 28 and two additional bases July 14. The program is being funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 

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