Family Readiness Group FRG

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• Family Readiness Group (FRG)
• 102
• Suzanne Buemi, Family Assistance Center
  Coordinator
• Grace Finley, Wing Family Program Coordinator

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Course Objectives

• Define a Family Readiness Group (FRG)
• Establish the make up of an FRG
• Identify types of volunteers and their roles
• Inspection Check List
• Fundraising/New Regulations
• Define the Chain of Concern
• READY, SET, GO!
• Creation of a Ready, Set, Go Calendar

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Mission of Family Readiness Group

• To promote family readiness, quality of life,
  and empowerment of military families through
  education, communication, resources, and
  community involvement.

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Terms and Acronyms

• Test your knowledge of common acronyms and terms!
  Your spouse rushes into the house and says
• "Honey, I'm sorry I'm late. I had to talk to the
  SFPD and WFPC about the JFSAP team. It looks like
  we can use MOS along with the FACs at our next
  meeting for the FRG. We also discussed what the
  SYC and OMK has in mind for the youth. This is
  going to be exciting, but the FRGL and UC need to
  know as well. Gotta go. I need to call them ASAP!

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Family Readiness Groups

• What an FRG is
• An information conduit
• A welcoming organization
• A self-help and referral organization
• A source of support and group activities
• A command sponsored program

• Goals of the FRG
• Prepare families for separation and reunion
• Allow service members to focus on their mission
  during deployments/ training
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism
• Making Families Ready!
• Staying connected to people and resources

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Family Readiness Groups

• The FRG is not
• A lending institution
• A babysitting service
• A conduit for gossip
• A professional counseling agency
• A surrogate parent, guardian or social
• worker
• A taxi service

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FRA

• Family Readiness Assistant

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Establishing a Family Readiness Group

• What are some of the FRG
• positions?
• What are some of the FRG
• responsibilities?

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Volunteer Categories

• Statutory Volunteer-
• Appointed by the Commander
• Seek credit for their volunteer hours in direct
  support of the National Guard Family Program
• Must have a job description outlining roles and
  responsibilities
• Examples Treasurer, FRGL

• Gratuitous Volunteer-
• Volunteers who offer to help support meetings,
  events, and activities
• Volunteers who do not wish to serve in an
  official capacity
• Gratuitous volunteers do not require a formal job
  description

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Stat or Grat Game!
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• Jane Doe has received a letter in the mail
  stating that she has been appointed as the FRG
  Leader by the Commander of the unit.
• STAT
• Jane Doe calls the Commander to state that she
  really doesnt want to do anything official she
  would just like to show up and help the FRG.
• GRAT

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• The FRG is going to be selling burritos as a
  fundraiser. They raise 200.00 and hand this
  money over to the Treasurer. The treasurer makes
  sure this money goes into the FRG bank account.
  Is the Treasurer Stat or Grat?
• STAT
• This volunteer has a job description which
  outlines his/her roles and responsibilities.
  He/she can also claim credit for their hours with
  the National Guard Family Program.
• STAT

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• This volunteer serves on the State Advisory
  Council. He/She is not an FRGL but helps
  contribute where needed to help with statewide
  events such as the Family Program State
  Conference or a Holiday party at the Governors
  Mansion. This volunteer may also help the FACs
  with mob workshops, FRG meetings, or wherever
  their help is needed. This volunteer is able to
  travel to State Conference on an Invitational
  Travel Order.
• Stat or Grat?
• STAT

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FRSA

• FAMILY READINESS
• SUPPORT ASSISTANT

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Inspection ChecklistRefer to Your Handbook

• Inspection Checklist pg 34
• Appointment Letters pg 17, 35
• Annual Brief pg 27
• Newsletters pg 21, 22
• Bank Account pg 18
• Volunteer Hours pg 70
• Unit Family Welcoming Packets pg 27
• Monthly/Quarterly Meetings
• Profile Forms pg 24
• Bi-Annual Reports pg 20

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Army Family Profile Forms

• One Page Profile
• (in handbook pg 25)
• Non-deployed
• Updated at Annual Brief
• Kept with FRGL or UC
• For official use only
• Newsletters
• Family Day
• AT
• Information included is covered under Privacy Act

• Long Version Profile
• (not in handbook)
• Prep for deployed status
• Updated with each deployment
• Kept with FAC in locked file cabinet
• For official use only
• Newsletters
• Emergency Contact
• Well Calls
• Mandatory for Soldier Readiness Prep (SRP)
• Information included is covered under Privacy Act

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Air Family Profile Forms

• One Page Profile (in handbook pg 25)
• Required prior to 30 day deployment
• Profile form is only current for one year
• If authorization provided
• FRGL well calls
• Deployment information
• Program information throughout the year
• If authorization not provided
• Kept in the WFPC office
• Used at discretion of the Wing or Unit CC in the
  event of an emergency
• Information included is covered under Privacy Act

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Bi-Annual Reports

• At this time we will take 10 minutes to fill out
  your Bi-Annual report.
• Remember this is due June 1st 2008
• Please refer to page 20 in your handbook to see
  the Bi-Annual Report this is also an item in the
  inspection checklist on page 34

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MFLC

• MILITARY FAMILY LIFE CONSULTANT

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Fundraising Army

• FRGs are considered an Official Program and in
  accordance with DA policy, may not fundraise
  outside of its own organization
• Internal fundraising and account balance may not
  exceed 10,000
• Requires a bi-annual report to the commander and
  FRA (Family Readiness Assistant) at a minimum
• AR 608-47, 608-1 appendix J

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Fundraising Air

• FRGs are considered Official Activities and
  may not fundraise outside of its own
  organization
• Internal fundraising may not exceed a monthly
  average of 1,000 over a 3 month period
  exceeding this requires applying to become a
  Private Organization (PO)
• Requires a bi-annual report to the commander and
  the FRA (Family Readiness Assistant) at a minimum
• AFI 34-223

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Spending Funds Legally

• Commanders should maintain awareness and grant
  approval for FRG fundraising
• All funds to be spent on family readiness, such
  as refreshments for meetings, family
  events/parties, recognizing volunteers
• Funds are not to be spent on a single family, a
  charity, or unit activities such as a ball or
  retirement dinner
• Unit funds and FRG funds must never mix

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Chain of Concern
TAG
HRO/ WG/CC
SFPD/ WFPC
FRGL
FAC
Family Member
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READY, SET, GO!

• The goal of Family Readiness is
• to be READY!
• Deployments can happen at a
• moments notice
• We want to prepare your FRG
• and families to be SET to GO!

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March Quarterly FRG MTG Plan for AT/picnic FRG
Easter Egg hunt- party
February
January
April
December Holiday Dinner/Party Annual FRG
Brief Update Family Info 1 Dec Bi-Annual Report
May Family Readiness Conference (Cdr, UC, 1SG,
FRGL)
Sample FRG Calendar READY!
June AT Send Off/ Welcome Home Quarterly FRG
MTG 1 June Bi-Annual Report
November
July
August
September Quarterly FRG MTG Plan for holiday
party
October
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December Holiday Dinner/Party Annual FRG
Brief Update Family Info 1 Dec Bi-Annual Report
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(No Transcript)
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Apr 07
Mar 07 Quarterly FRG mtg Unit Easter Egg /
Cookout Annual Briefs
Feb 07
May 07 Family Program Conference (CC, Shirt,
UC, FRGL)
Jan 08 Welcome Home Celebration !!!
June 07 Quarterly FRG Mtg Holiday
party Pre-deployment 1 June Bi-Annual Report
COANG FRG Calendar READY, SET, GO!
Dec 07 Deployment Socials Holiday Party
Family Day / Annual Briefs 1 Dec Bi-Annual
Report
July 07
Nov 07 ADVON Mob Workshop Deployed Family Dinner
Oct 07 Pre-ADVON Mob Workshop Fall Festival
Sept 07 FRG Mtg Holiday party Pre-deployment

Aug 07 Unit Picnic Family Day / Annual Briefs
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FRG Mtgs/Activities

• Non-Deployed
• Held Quarterly
• Family Day
• Holiday Party
• Annual Brief
• AT- cookout
• Fall Festivals
• Fundraisers

• Deployed
• Held Monthly
• Family Day
• Holiday Parties
• Fundraisers
• Guest Speakers
• Military One Source
• Red Cross
• Police Officer (safety)
• Chaplain
• Hearts Across the Miles
• Drug Prevention and Treatment

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Group Activity

• Create your units Ready Calendar

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DEERS

• DEFENSE ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM

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Helpful Sites

• www.coloradoguard.army.mil
• Handbook
• Inspections
• Family Program contacts
• Regulations
• Forms
• Resources
• www.guardfamily.org
• Must register as a volunteer
• Track volunteer hours
• Track meetings/activities
• Guard Family Team Building (GFTB) Online Courses

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TAG

• THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

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Review

• Defined a Family Readiness Group (FRG)
• Establish the make up of an FRG
• Identify types of volunteers and their roles
• Inspection Check List
• Fundraising/New Regulations
• Define the Chain of Concern
• READY, SET, GO!
• Created a units Ready Calendar

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General W. T. Sherman 1864

• Man has two supreme loyalties.to country and to
  family, so long as their families are safe, they
  will defend their country, believing that by
  their sacrifice they are safeguarding their
  families also. But even the bonds of patriotism,
  discipline, and comradeship are loosened when the
  family itself is threatened.

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What Questions Do You Have For Us?