ContentsHealthy Navy Families — The Importance of Listening ............................................... 2

Military Spouse Scholarships....................... 2

EFMP leadership team visits CNIC regions, provides training, insight .......................... 3

Understanding consumer education, marketing.................................................. 3

Welcome Aboard ........................................ 3

Around the FFSCs ........................................ 3

JANUARY 2014

Navy Family Readiness Program Staff Connections is a monthly publication of the Commander, Navy Installations Command’s Navy Family Readiness Program. It is designed to communicate pro gram news and initiatives to Navy Family Readiness Program (N91) staff. Submission deadlines are the 10th of the month for the next month’s pub lication.

Fleet and Family Readiness Program Director..............................................................Ed Cannon

Navy Family Readiness Program Manager ................................................Matt Straughan

Navy Family Readiness Deputy for Program Execution ................................................Connie Civiello

Editor ...... Timothy McGough timothy.mcgough@navy.mil

Layout and Design ................................Zeiders Enterprises, Inc.

Learn more about Navy Family Readiness on the Gateway:

https://cnicgateway.cnic.navy.mil/HQ/N9/N91

Commander, Navy Installations Command 716 Sicard Street SE, Suite 1000

Washington, DC 20374-5140 Editor: 202-433-4683, DSN 288-4683

Happy New Year, Family Readiness (N91) Staff! With the New Year upon us, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work and support in 2013. It has been a very busy and produc-tive year and we have accomplished some great things, started several new initiatives and made improvements to existing programs. Your dedication to our Sailors and their families has resulted in great suc-cess and easier access in almost all of our programs.

First, I want to say how much I appreciate being part of the Family Support team. Every day you make a difference in the lives of our Sailors and their families. It is an honor to be part of this team, comprised of some of the most talented and most dedicated people working for our Navy.

This has been quite an interesting year with its ups and downs but through it all you have all performed in a stellar and a professional manner. You have successfully navigated budget cuts, sequestration, civilian furloughs, government shutdown and even endured the Navy Yard shoot-ings tragedy. Your efforts and dedication overcame these hurdles and your support to our Sailors and their families has contrib-uted to the Navy’s mission success.

Transition Goals, Plans, Success took off in 2013 and continues to assist our service members and their families to transition back into civilian life more easily and helps prepare them to overcome the obstacles they may face. Transition GPS is fully opera-tional and continues to shine.

Our Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program staff has had a tumultuous year but through it all they continue to support our Sailors, families and Navy community as a whole. With the rollout of the new Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Pro-gram (D-SAACP) requirements in Fiscal Year 2013, all SAPR staff have been properly trained and credentialed as required per Department of Defense (DOD) regulations. A total of 5,835 D-SAACP applications have been received. To date, 80 Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and 5,200 SAPR Victim Advocates (VAs) have been credentialed. The successful completion of this new requirement has led to a more competent and professional SAPR program staff across the Enterprise.

The Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention Department is in the process of stationing Deployed Resiliency Counselors on all carriers and amphibious ships. The New Parent Support Program (NPSP) has spear-headed initiatives in 2013 that include the Fatherhood Initiative, Safe Sleep Campaign addressing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Child Abuse Prevention Month (Break the Cycle) and the Protective Factors campaign, which focuses on building resiliency and strengthen-ing families.

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Healthy Navy Families — The Importance of Listening Submitted by Tricia A. Morzenti, MS, LPC, NCC N91 Family Advocacy Program Analyst

Note: This article is the third of a 10-part series on healthy military families

This is the third article of a series that promotes healthy military families by discussing factors that are com-monly found in families that are well adjusted, bonded and functional (Benzies & Mychasiuk, 2009; Vandsburger, Harrigan, & Biggerstaff, 2009). Last month, the impor-tance of family traditions that form a sense of family identity was discussed. This month’s article focuses on listening. As professionals, we are aware that a physical sense of hearing is not in and of itself “listening.” Accord-ing to the references below, listening is comprised of steps: receiving the message, interpreting the message, confirming understanding of the message and responding to the message, if needed.

With our fast-paced lifestyles and busy environments, we tend “cut to the chase” and respond; however, in doing so, we often respond with misinformation. This can then create a snowball effect of misunderstandings. Many times, we may not even know that this is happening. In a family context, proper listening shows respect, endearment and investment in the relationship. It can mean the difference between a teen sharing a concern with a parent or going to a peer for advice, between spouses confiding in one another or containing stress within or between a family maintaining teamwork towards a common goal or feeling isolated.

The Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention (CAP) program supports healthy coping skills and communication between family members. Are you interested in learning more? Try the links below for further information on active listening.

Related Links:

http://www.businesslistening.com/listening_skills-3.php http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/65759.htm http://www.taft.cc.ca.us/lrc/class/assignments/actlisten.html

References:

Benzies, K., & Mychasiuk, R. (2009). Fostering family resiliency: a review of the key protection factors. Child & Family Social Work, 14(1), 103-114.

Vandsburger, E., Harrigan, M., & Biggerstaff, M. (2009). In spite of all, we make it: themes of stress and resiliency as told by women in families living in poverty. Journal of Fam-ily Social Work, 11(1), 17-34. Also available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ full/10.1080/10522150802007303#.UovT8-KndOs.

The Family Emergency Response team continues to keep Sailors and their families informed and up-to-date on how to pre-pare for emergencies before, during and after a disaster. They have recently taken on the new responsibility of the Navy Gold Star Family Initiative. In the short time since they have taken the reins, this program’s popularity has soared on social media, receiving more than 14,000 likes in just a few months.

Our Web-based on-demand training for staff, Sailors and families has increased in numbers and subjects. We have also built numerous training podcasts, giving our customers knowledge and training that’s only clicks away.

In 2013, our Deployment Support Depart-ment produced a new seven-part video series focused on building ready and resilient Sailors and families. In addition, the Relocation Assistance and Ombudsman programs updated their training videos, making the information more relevant to the 21st Century Sailor.

These examples are just some of the great work you are doing to make our Navy stronger and more capable. You should be proud of your contributions to this! Once again, thank you for your support and selflessness throughout 2013, and I look forward to working with you to accomplish great things this coming year.

Sincerely, Matt Straughan CNIC N91- Family Readiness Director

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Military Spouse ScholarshipsThe mission of the Joanne Holbrook Patton scholarship program is to help prepare military spouses for meaningful employment and to better contribute to their family’s financial security. Scholarships are now available. APPLY NOW!

JANUARY 2014

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EFMP leadership team visits CNIC regions, provides training, insight Submitted by Lisa Davis, CNIC N91 EFMP Manager

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) leadership team, comprised of representatives from Navy Personnel Command (PERS 456), Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Headquarters (HQ) and Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) HQ recently visited CNIC regions Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Southeast.

The team met with EFMP service providers, command leadership, EFMP command points of contact and fami-lies to provide training and program updates and to gain insight into issues specific to EFMP staff members and families in those regions.

The training provided enhances the staff’s provision of top-quality customer service and family support, and strengthens command EFMP execution.

The information gathered from EFMP staff and families enables the EFMP leadership team to make constructive recommendations to Navy leadership regarding EFMP enhancements.

Understanding consumer education, marketingTo understand the wide range of information sources consumers could be exposed to in making financial decisions, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently commissioned a study of the size and scope of the financial information field. The results give an overall indica-tion of the relative amounts spent in the U.S. on financial education and on the marketing of certain types of financial products. The report found that for every dollar put toward financial education, $25 is spent on financial marketing, which can make it difficult for consumers to find objec-tive information. To give an idea of the magnitude of this spending: $670 mil-lion was spent on financial education last year, while $17 billion was spent on marketing financial products to consumers.

Take a look at the full report, “Navigat-ing the Market,” on the CFPB website, www.consumerfinance.gov. This easy-to-read, 48-page report will help provide important insights for Sailors and their families.

Around the FFSCsJBAB support center holds Hiring Our Heroes job fairJoint Base Anacostia-Bolling’s (JBAB) Military and Family Support Center (MFSC) hosted their second annual Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) job fair at The Bolling Club on the Nov. 1, 2013. Prior to the job fair, workshops were held that enabled job seekers to hone their job-seeking skills. General Electric (GE) presented job search strategies and MFSC sponsored Dressing for Success and the Interview.

More than 590 job seekers pre-registered to attend and were able to upload their resumes, as required. Those resumes were forwarded to the participating employing organizations prior to the event. Exit surveys turned in at the event reflected that the employers accepted 1,100 resumes, conducted 234 interviews and made 50 firm job offers.

Volunteers from the Department of the Navy/As-sistant of Administration (DON/AA), Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), White House Communication Agency (WHCA), Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda, Ft. Belvoir, Ft. Meade, Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren, JBAB and some military spouses all helped to make the event a success.

Hiring Our Heroes, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, was launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, HOH‘s goal is to create a hiring movement across America in hundreds of communities where veterans and military families return every day.

Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 650 hiring fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Through June 30, 2013, more than 21,600 veterans and military spouses have obtained jobs.

The “Hiring 500,000 Heroes” campaign is engaging businesses to commit to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014.

Attendees said that the classes were informative and the information was helpful for their job search. MFSC staff was available throughout the event to review resumes.

JBAB plans to host this event again in November 2014.

NOVEMBER 18, 2013

A comparison of spending on financial education and financial marketing

Navigating the Market

Welcome AboardPlease help us provide a warm welcome to Anthony Stevens. He joined the Commander, Navy Installations Command N91 Work and Family Life Program/Transition Assistance Team on Dec. 9, 2013. He is a former Sailor who brings a great deal of Information Technology (IT) experience to the team. Anthony transitioned from supporting the NAVSEA Virginia Class (SSN 774) Submarine Training and Manpower Team for URS Federal Services.

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Mrs. Greenert hosts coffee for NDW Ombudsmen

Mrs. Darleen Greenert, spouse of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) ADM Jonathan W. Greenert, hosted an Ombudsman Appre-ciation Coffee for Naval District Washington (NDW) Ombudsmen on Dec. 5, 2013. Dur-ing the coffee the Ombudsmen enjoyed refreshments, fellowship and a tour of the Greenert’s historical home.

Service members complete transition requirements at Capstone event

The Transition Assistance Management Program (TAMP) unit from Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, Va., conducted a Capstone event on Nov. 13, 2013, that supported 61 service members with their separation/retirement. Participants conducted an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) review followed by the completion of their ITP checklist with Transition Goals, Plans, Success facilitators. The Capstone event was the final phase in their transi-tion process as they prepare to separate from the military and start their new civilian careers.

Building bridges of understanding, friendship with Topolino Intercultural Relations (ICR) is a crucial tool for smooth, effective adjustment to overseas life and work. Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s very active ICR team, Agata Carnazza, Andrea Carobene and Cinzia Spampinato, ensure that children also get help in adjusting to the new environment. The Topolino (Mickey Mouse) Class is a special program that helps children from first to fifth grades learn about and share experiences with local Italian school children.

Students participate in a customized cultural brief using a booklet designed just for kids by Sigonella’s ICR team. In partnership with Department of Defense Dependent School (DODDS) and local schools in nearby Catania (Sicily), the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) takes American students to visit a local school and interact with Italian children. Each month’s event uses a different theme to explore the two cultures through games, activities and food. Many American foods, such as brownies and Doritos, are a novelty for Italians and vice versa, so kids from both cultures bring typical or favorite treats to share with the group.

This “mini-ICR” enables American children to see what Italian kids do in school and observe some of the cultural differences. At the end of class, many of them realize that kids are kids no matter what, all around the world! The half-day adventure not only helps kids feel more comfortable in their new environment, but also helps launch many new friendships that continue throughout the tour and enhance their outlook throughout life.

Partnering with In Gear Career to help transitioning spouses

Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Fleet and Family Support Center’s (FFSC’s) Family Employ-ment Specialist, Sarah Conlan, partnered with the local chapter of In Gear Career, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports military spouses with professional careers. FFSC and the local In Gear Career chapter presented a “Ten Steps to a Federal Job” workshop specifically for military spouses and active-duty members who are separating or retiring in the near future. Each of the 14 participants received a copy of the new edition of the Job Seekers Guide by Kathryn Troutman, generating many follow-on appointments for one-on-one counseling. Sigonella’s Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) is plan-ning future classes with In Gear Career to reach more military spouses and to continue to be a positive and influential presence on base.

CFS’s full speed ahead in Africa

When preparing to hold Command Financial Specialist (CFS) training, most Personal Financial Management (PFM) specialists do not typically worry about sweeping sand out of the classroom or having to postpone class until 2:00 a.m. to avoid 112-degree temperatures. Those challenges are all in a day’s work for Mar-tina Simpson, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti’s FFSC PFM educator, who facilitated the installation’s fourth CFS Training Course this year on Nov. 12-16, 2013. Because of the high optempo in the Horn of Africa, many new CFSs do not get to complete their training until shortly Agata Carnazza, Sigonella Intercultural Relations (ICR) Specialist, and

students from Sigonella Elementary School visit with students from Catania’s Salesiani School and their English teacher, Carmen Panettiere.

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Around the FFSCs (continued)

JANUARY 2014

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Around the FFSCs (continued)

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before they rotate back stateside, bringing their knowledge back to their parent com-mand. After four classes, though, Martina has now trained enough CFSs that they can support deployed Army, Marine and Navy commands working throughout northern and central Africa, while she also provides post-deployment briefs and financial coun-seling for service members from all branches returning back to America.

Fostering readiness through cultural understanding, cheese

Newcomers to Naples and Gaeta sometimes struggle with the contrast between their imagined “Under a Tuscan Sun” experience and the realities of Neapolitan living. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Gaeta’s Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Intercultural Relations (ICR) Specialist, Angelo D’Arienzo, has become legendary in the community for his expert guidance in fostering understand-ing by introducing Navy families to local customs while navigating often-jarring tran-sitions. Naples and the region of Campania are world-renowned for fresh buffalo-milk mozzarella, and the cheese is considered a point of cultural pride among locals.

During a recent ICR field trip, attendees visited the buffaloes and observed the cheese-making process step-by-step at “Caseificio Santa Lucia,” north of Naples. It is documented that monks in nearby Capua

were making buffalo moz-zarella nearly 1,000 years ago, which may be why this delight can only be

described as heaven on a plate. During his field trips, D’ Arienzo plans and coordinates all the logistics and he also ensures that at-tendees get a good dose of history to better understand the new world around them. Adapting to a new way of life is a little less rough when you have an ICR specialist to help guide the way.

TAMP unit hosts another job fair with ‘big name’ employersOn Nov. 14, 2013, the Norfolk Transi-tion Assistance Management Program (TAMP) unit hosted their second job fair of the year at the newly renovated Building U93. Service members and their families were provided the opportunity to speak with numerous employers regarding job openings. Many of the service members had attended the Transition Goals, Plans, Success (Transition GPS) classes prior to attending the job fair and were prepared with copies of their resumes and questions to ask the employers. Thirty-two employers participated in the job fair, including BAE Systems, Johnson and Johnson, Cargill, SAIC, GEICO, Shell Oil, Walmart and Face-book. Attendees were impressed with the variety of employers to choose from, and employers praised the quality of candidates they spoke with. Linda Washington, Human Resources Specialist at Walmart stated, “I have a good handful of candidates who we will be bringing in for interviews next week. This was a great event, and we hope to be invited back in the future.”

Location, location, location

Chris Boling, professional Victim Advocate at Naval Submarine Base (NAVSUBASE) New London, Conn., watches over an outreach table located in the waterfront fitness cen-ter. The location is one of the best on base to reach afloat commands.

FFSC Norfolk hosts FAP leadership trainingMore than 30 command leadership partici-pants and new Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Points of Contact (POCs) at Naval Station Norfolk attended this eight-hour training. FAP educators, staff, representatives from Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Regional Legal Service Office (RLSO) provided their expertise, training and guidance to assist commands in the prevention and identification of all forms of domestic abuse. The training covered numerous aspects of the FAP process, includ-ing referrals, the Incident Determination Committee, Clinical Case Staff meeting, case management and case closure.

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Around the FFSCs (continued)

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NIOC Maryland at Ft. Meade opens new FFSC

The Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Maryland, Ft. Meade Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) celebrated its grand opening at its new location on Nov. 22, 2013. The center previously shared a building with Army Community Service and the Airmen Readiness Center, but was lacking adequate space for all its programs. The new location was advocated for by the FFSC Director, Joyette Weber, to meet the growing needs of the more than 7,500 Sailors and family members stationed at Fort Meade. The new facility was, in part, a self-help project by the FFSC Staff and NIOC Maryland Sailors that owes its completion to the tenancy of its Director. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was presided over by VADM Michael S. Rogers, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber and 10th Fleet, Army Col. Brian P. Foley, Fort Meade Garrison Commander, CAPT Donald E. Elam, Com-manding Officer, NIOC Maryland and Weber. More than 150 command and community members were in attendance to celebrate and tour the new facility.

NAS Fallon kids dedicate, decorate school busNaval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nev., Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) attended an event held by local elementary schools en-titled “My Hands Are Not for Hitting.” Fleet and

INSIGHTS — FFSC San Diego conducts home based business training

Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) San Diego conducted the quarterly INSIGHTS to Starting a Home-Based Business seminar for 18 Sailors and spouses at the Logan Heights Public Library. FFSC partners with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the suc-cessful seminar.

Fallon holds DVAM craft fair

Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) held some new events, partnering with the local Elks Lodge to host the inaugural Domestic Violence Awareness Craft Fair. The event also included the local agency Domestic Violence Interven-tion, Inc., which funds a shelter in Fallon, Nev. for women and their children affected by domestic violence.

The event was a success and helped the shelter raise funds that will be used to assist victims of domestic violence by providing shelter as well as classes and resources to get back on their feet after leaving a violent relationship.

The NAS Fallon FFSC also created centerpieces for the NAS Fallon Navy Ball held on Oct. 25, 2013, using the Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) colors purple and gold.

Family employees assisted the children in painting their hands purple, after which the kids all took a pledge that their “hands are not for hitting” before putting their hand prints onto a local school bus. The event brings awareness to young children that hitting is not acceptable. The children came up with ideas of how they can use their hands for helping and positive ideas.

FFSC San Diego hosts Retiree, Veteran Expo, Resource Fair

In November 2013, Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) San Diego conducted the Retiree and Veteran Expo and Resource Fair for more than 400 retirees, veterans and spouses. The annual event included guest speakers from Veterans Affairs, FFSC, TRICARE and a variety of other presentations to equip attendees with the necessary resources for success. In addition to viewing presentations, attendees networked with 35 support agencies.

17 San Diego Sailors attend Transition GPS Capstone event

Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) San Diego held a Transition Goals, Plan, Success (Transition GPS) Capstone event for 17 transitioning Sailors. At the Capstone event, each Sailor’s transition plan is evaluated to ensure preparedness to successfully transition from the military to a civilian career and to validate achievement of the Career Readiness Standards (CRS) for the chosen career path.

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Around the FFSCs (continued)

Family Readiness Express makes stop at shipboard health fairFleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) San Diego’s Family Readiness Express (FRE) attended USS Essex and USS Makin Island’s joint health fair. The FRE staff met with Sailors to provide information about FFSC services, alongside Naval Medical Center San Diego’s (NMCSD) Blood Donor Center, the commissary, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) and the NMCSD’s Health and Wellness Department.

Lemoore promotes team building with boat racesThe Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore Fleet and Fam-ily Support Center (FFSC) monthly manager’s meeting for October was held on Halloween, post-poned from the normal first Thursday of the month due to the government shut-down. This meeting was a team-building event providing fun and friendly competi-tion, mixing boat races with Halloween costumes and a potluck. Each FFSC team member was given a basic wooden boat and tasked with customizing and decorat-ing it prior to the meeting. Two prizes were given out, one for the best-looking boat and one for the fastest boat. The event was great for building team camaraderie and the staff looks forward to making this an annual event.

Lemoore promotes DVAM with ‘In Their Shoes’

The Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) team worked with the base law enforcement to conduct training to increase victim sensitivity and domestic violence awareness. Members of law enforcement were given scenarios to role play and sent through pre-determined stations that included housing, legal, medical, job seeking, chaplain, FFSC, command, the victim’s home and/or the victim’s friends/family. All of the participants were playing the role of an abused spouse and were able to experience the consequences of each of their decisions while transitioning between the stations. This training reached about 70 mili-tary law enforcement members. Participants were debriefed after the interactive portion of the training and showed great depth in understanding the challenges of domestic violence from the victim’s perspective.

NAS Lemoore stands down for safety

The Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) raised the roof at a recent installation safety stand down. Their completely original approach highlighted various programs offered by FFSC and received high praise. The staff acted out a few of the most common safety concerns throughout

the holiday season including finances, parent-ing, family violence and stress. While in the midst of their performances, actors would freeze to allow the facilitator to explain which programs could benefit the pretend family. The actors portrayed different directions relationships could take. They concluded with a summary of FFSC resources.

DAVAs provide unique training for base securityNaval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore Do-mestic Abuse Victim Advocates (DAVAs) spearheaded an innovative and unique training with base security that mirrored real life domestic violence scenarios. Each Master-at-Arms (MA) had the opportunity to watch five scenes acted out and actively participate in an additional scenario. This creative training provided domestic violence education related to what could be happening “behind closed doors” and included an informative after-action brief discussing response techniques. It also presented an opportunity for the MAs to receive feedback from their peers, chain of command, Criminal Inves-tigative Department (CID), Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), DAVA and Family Advocacy Representatives (FAR).

Attention FFSC Employees! We want you to share your success, experience and expertise. If you have a success story, an employee(s) you want to recognize, a cool event or just great information you want to share with the FFSC employees around the Navy, we are waiting for you! Just send your photos, stories, blogs, etc. to Tim McGough at timothy.mcgough@navy.mil. Ensure your material is focused towards the FFSC staff. Deadline for submission is close of business on the 10th of each month for the following month. We look forward to hearing from you!

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THE NAVY’S EMERGENCY PREPARENESS PROGRAM

www.ready.navy.mil @ReadyNavyContact info: (202) 433-9348DSN 288-9348readynavy@navy.mil

Go to the Ready Navy website and learn about:• Potential Hazards• Being and staying informed,

before, during, and after a crisis• Creating Emergency Plans• Building 3-day Emergency Kits• Available Resources

Seconds Count!Prepare beforehand and save lives, property, and time.

EMERGENCIES HAPPEN

JANUARY 2014