Holding hands

DOD Family Advocacy Program 

This program prevents and responds to adult-initiated child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse in the military, and coordinates the multidisciplinary team response to problematic sexual behavior in children and youth.

Department of Defense Seal
 

The Family Advocacy Program supports active-duty service members, their spouses, partners and families. Its mission is to prevent adult-initiated abuse, ensure victim safety and provide treatment for those impacted by abuse through advocacy, counseling and educational services that promote healthy relationships and parenting. FAP collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to provide safety and supervision planning and to coordinate clinical interventions for child-initiated problematic sexual behaviors.

Contact FAP at any time to discuss your situation, learn more about available resources and discover how the program can provide support according to your specific needs. See below for more information.

Need Help Now?

Talk to a Family Advocacy Program domestic abuse victim advocate or a civilian domestic abuse hotline.

How the Family Advocacy Program Helps

New mom and dad with baby

Teaches healthy relationships and supports new parents

Education and support are available to expectant parents or those with children up to 3 years of age through FAP’s New Parent Support Program. Services are often delivered via home visits and are available to support parents and caregivers throughout this period.

GET SUPPORT
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Prevents and responds to child abuse and neglect

FAP promotes nurturing and healthy environments for children and youth, including through educational groups and classes, comprehensive assessments, counseling and coordination with other providers or agencies, when needed.

When a child is the victim of an adult-initiated abuse incident, a parent may also receive advocate services and counseling.

FIND RESOURCES
Couple holding hands

Supports victims and prevents domestic abuse

Relationships can be challenging, especially with added military life stressors, and can be unhealthy and even abusive. FAP supports individuals and couples through counseling services to help manage stressors, improve communication and develop healthier couple dynamics.

FAP domestic abuse victim advocates can help those impacted by abuse and explain options for reporting abuse, assessing risk, developing safety plans and linking to other resources. Depending on the situation, this may include providing counseling and emotional support, emergency support services, housing, or financial and legal assistance.

FAP provides:

  • Comprehensive assessments, counseling and case management services to stop unhealthy or abusive behaviors.
  • Improved communication and stress management skills to promote healthy relationships and help you process life experiences that could be having negative a negative impact on your personal and/or professional life.
  • Advocacy support, information and referral to non-beneficiary intimate partners to assure they receive continued care.
  • Confidential counseling to service members or their beneficiaries who experienced abuse at a different stage of their life.

FAP Services

  • Intake, risk and safety assessments
  • Safety planning
  • Clinical assessment and counseling
  • Referral to local resources

Your Reporting Options

  • Restricted or confidential reporting: Reports are not made to law enforcement or command
  • Unrestricted reporting: FAP works with command, law enforcement and others to ensure victim safety
Children draw on blacktop with chalk

Coordinates the multidisciplinary team response to problematic sexual behavior in children and youth

Parenting a child or teen exhibiting PSB can be stressful. Our children and teens are inundated with sexual messages and images from social media, television, movies, music, friends, billboards and the internet. Yet, sex remains a subject that can feel taboo and is often hard for parents to talk to their children and teens about. A new DOD policy expands FAP’s role to include coordinating a multidisciplinary team to initiate safety and supervision planning and assist parents in connecting to education and clinical interventions following a child or teen exhibiting or being impacted by problematic sexual behavior.

LEARN MORE

Resources for Families You Support

Start here if you’re a commander or service provider helping families find relationship help or parenting support.

For Service Providers

Find tools and resources to support you and your work with the military community.

For Military Leaders

Find quick, easy-to-use resources to support your service members and families.

Find Help Now

Reach out to FAP or call a civilian hotline for help. Staff members there can help you create a safety plan, find local support and more.

Find a Family Advocacy Program

Go to MilitaryINSTALLATIONS to find your nearest FAP.

Connect With a Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate

Find your nearest Family Advocacy Program office or local civilian resources.

Call a Hotline

National Domestic Violence Hotline:
800-799-7233

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:
800-422-4453

Safety alert: Computer use can be monitored and it is impossible to completely clear your browser history. If you are afraid your internet usage is being monitored, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

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