Wyoming National Guard Family Program

Vision
An enhanced quality of life for National Guard members, their Families, and the communities in which they live.

Mission
To establish and facilitate ongoing communication, involvement, support, and recognition between National Guard Families and the National Guard in a partnership that promotes the best in both.

Family Assistance Centers

The Wyoming National Guard has created six regional Family Assistance Centers (FAC) established throughout the state to assist with problems and issues that may be encountered while service members are mobilized.   FACs supports all branches of the military, along with civilian contractors, retirees and others as designated by the Department of Defense and the Wyoming National Guard.  Any of the FACs can provide assistance as required; however, you are encouraged to use the FAC closest to your home. 

Their goal is to assist Families with good communication, accurate information and strong mutual support.  When a service member is mobilized, a great deal of sacrifice is required of the individual, employers and most importantly, Family members.

The FACs are designed to provide information and referral, assistance with identification cards and Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERs), assistance with TRICARE and dental issues, legal assistance, assistance with financial issues, referral of Employer Support to Guard and Reserve (ESGR) issues, assistance with military related issues and factual information concerning the service members. Due to operational security and force protection concerns, the centers cannot provide locator services (addresses) for service members or units, or information about operational matters.

If you have problems or issues, don’t hesitate to call or visit the center nearest to you.  Although the FACs are scheduled to operate fixed hours, there will always be someone available to assist you if you call the Toll Free Telephone Number, (866) 992-7641 ext. 5109.

Family Readiness

The Wyoming State Family Program Office offers local training that can assist with everything from legal questions to life organizational skills to helping you set up a Family Readiness Group.

Family Readiness is the level of preparedness Families and their service members have. Our Family Readiness branch through proactive education and support programs that promote self reliance and enhance individual and Family well being.

In layman’s terms Family Readiness may be defined as providing Families and their service members with the education and support to enable them to function effectively in the military.

In order to help facilitate Family Readiness the National Guard promotes proactive education by providing continuous training to you and the Service Member (SM) throughout the Service Member’s (SM) military career. These training's are meant to help introduce you to the military life as well as helping you to adjust to the military life style.

The Guard also offers several support programs, such as the State Family Program Office, which can introduce you to the many services that are available nationally and locally to help you and your service member with this integration into the guard Family. These programs provide education, as well as a basis of support that can help assist you in becoming more self-reliant. With self-reliance and knowledge comes a feeling of increased self-confidence. This in turn can lead to stronger individual and Family well being.

Transition Assistance

The Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA) is the statewide point of contact to assist members in accessing Veterans Affairs benefits and healthcare services. The TAA also provides assistance in obtaining entitlements through the TRICARE Military Health System and access to community resources.

The TAA has strong partnerships and coalitions within the Department of Defense (TRICARE), Department of Veterans Affairs, State Directors of VA, Veterans Services Organizations, and State Headquarters groups, such as the Family Program, Chaplains Offices, Department of Labor, and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

The TAA can provide for each individual service member: Help you navigate through the numerous benefits and entitlements in the DoD and VA system. Take the time to assist you and not toss you into the "800 number desert!" The TAA will educate you so you will understand the benefits you have earned, such as:

• Guard entitlements and access for health care in both the DoD and Veteran Affairs medical facilities.
• TRICARE benefits while you are on active duty and when you return as an OIF/OEF Veteran.
• Important deadlines that require your action while still on active duty and as a Veteran so you do not miss these time sensitive opportunities.
• Dental care programs (time sensitive).
• Referral for counseling services for you and your family that will not affect your career.
• Referral for possible compensation for injuries or illness sustained in OIF/OEF.
• Insurance information such as SGLI and TSGLI
• Rehabilitative care management needed to help you return to a normal lifestyle.
• Assistance with job search and connection with ESGR for rights of employment.
• Assistance in connecting you to the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veteran Service Organizations to file disability claims.
• Assistance in the event of financial hardship, healthcare issues, or unemployment needs.
• Assistance with locating your medical records, DD 214's and other needed documents.

Survivor Outreach Services

The US ArmySurvivor Outreach Services (SOS) Program began by the in 2009 as a program to provide long term support to Survivors of Fallen Soldiers for as long as the Survivor needs or wants it.

The program demonstrates the Army's commitment to Families of the Fallen by providing both short and long term support and standardized services to Active, Reserve and Army National Guard Families. The ARNG SOS Coordinator provides the states and territories a subject matter expert supporting programs and services to Survivors of fallen Soldiers. The SOS Coordinators are responsible for developing, administering, and coordinating SOS programs and services within their state or territory.

The mission of SOS is to:
 Expand and improve services to Survivors.
 Define roles and responsibilities for all agencies and all components.
 Improve responsiveness and streamline the assistance process for Families.
 Provide access to Benefit Coordinators, Financial Counselors and Support Coordinators locally, and Long Term Family Case Management.

The Wyoming National Guard's Coordinator is Mr. Bill Spellman. He is responsible for developing, administering, and coordinating SOS programs and services within Wyoming. He works closely with Benefits Coordinators at the Ft Carson Casualty Assistance Center, Military Family Life Counselors in the State, Casualty Assistance Officers and Long Term Family Case Management. There is also Financial Counseling available through The Army Reserve in Utah and Kansas. The Support Coordinator acts as a liaison between Families and the Army and any other agency that may have information or benefits available for the Family.

In short SOS is here to ensure Survivors receive all the benefits to which they are entitled, and encourages Survivors to remain an integral part of the ARNG Family for as long as they desire.

Child and Youth

Mission

To meet the social, emotional, and academic needs of the Wyoming National Guard children from birth to age 18.

The Youth Program offers deployment and reunion training and information, military youth pen-pal program, quarterly newsletters, and trains educators and counselors on military child issues.

The Youth Program assists with grants for child care, youth sports, fine arts programs and tutoring to stay at grade level while a service member is deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

The Youth Office is a one-stop resource for child and youth information and resources.

 

Family Program web links

http://www.guardFamily.org
The National Guard Bureau-Family Program website’s goal is to make it your “one-stop shop” to find information on programs, benefits, resources and more.

This exclusive member-only site is for the members of the National Guard and their Families. Come here to find exclusive content, local resources, access the document repository, and local events.

You can learn about Family Readiness, Program Services and Plans and Operations. Family Readiness takes a look at the six-step Family Program model that keeps you informed and involved about your benefits as a serving Family. Program Services provides an overview of the various programs that the Family Program covers; Family, Youth and Community Outreach initiatives.

http://www.militaryonesource       
Military One Source is a one-stop-shop for military Families.  It provides information on health, career, parenting, finances, legal, recreation, special needs and more.  The site also provides podcasts, webinars, discussion boards, moderated chat and current news feeds.    MOS staff will research local community resources on a case-by-case basis for any need a Family may have, from counseling to child care to auto repair.  Counselors trained at the masters level or higher are available 24/7 at 1-800-342-9647 and can provide up to 6 free confidential counseling sessions per issue. 

http://www.airforcecrossroads.com 
The official website of the Air Force for military Family members and the helping agencies that provide support.

http://deploymenthealthlibrary.fhp.osd.mil 
The Deployment Health and Family Readiness Library is an easy way to quickly find accurate and up-to-date deployment health and Family readiness information.

http://www.nmfa.org 
"Strong Families, Strong Force", NMFA is the only national, non-profit organization solely devoted to the interests of active duty, Reserve Component, survivor and retiree Families of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

http://www.operationhomefront.net 
Operation Home front is a non-profit community supporting our troops by helping the Families they leave behind when the active duty or reserve member deploys

Youth related web links

http://www.militarystudent.dod.mil/
This website is maintained by the Department of Defense and has sites for the following user groups:  Children ages 6-12, Teens, Parents, Special Needs Families, Military Leaders and Schools.  It includes information on deployment, relocation, state driver’s license guidelines, state graduation regulations, money management, classroom ideas, babysitting and more.  It also has a secure chat room for military children and teens.

http://www.ourmilitarykids.org
Our Military Kids is a private, grassroots organization that provides grants for children of Reserve and National Guard members who are deployed overseas or severely injured.  Grants can be used for youth sports, fine arts, and tutoring programs to stay at grade level and are paid directly to the organization providing the activity or tutoring.  Children ages 3 years through 12th grade are eligible for a grant of up to $500.  Under certain conditions, a child may be eligible for more than one grant.  Additional eligibility guidelines, applications and instructions are available on their website. 

http://www.zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that provides information for parents, professionals and policymakers to help them improve the lives of infants and toddlers.  Early experiences set a course for a lifelong process of discovery about ourselves and the world around us.  The way babies are held, talked to and cared for teaches them about who they are and how they are valued, and this in turn profoundly shapes who they will become.  Military Families can find information especially for them under the "Key Topics" tab.

http://childgrief.org
The Children's Grief Education Association is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of grieving children, their Families and those who support them. A special link for military Families addresses the challenges of having a parent or Family member serving in the military.  Child and Families of military members have an high awareness of the risk of injury or death for their loved one due to media coverage and the nature of the work of military personnel, especially during deployment to a combat zone.  The "Anticipatory Grief" link gives helpful suggestions for situations in which there is concern that a loved one may be harmed.