Family Advocacy Program Event Honors Top Providers From Each Service

Individuals from the Family Advocacy Program were honored today for their efforts to prevent harmful behaviors in military communities.

Military Community and Family Policy’s Military Community Advocacy Directorate, which oversees the department’s Family Advocacy Program, hosted its 2026 Child Abuse and Neglect and Domestic Abuse Prevention Recognition Event. The event honors one exceptional Family Advocacy Program provider from each military service for their outstanding, yearlong effort in child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse prevention.

Opening the event, Lee Kelley, principal director of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for MC&FP, remarked on the vital role FAP plays in preventing child and intimate partner abuse within the military.

“For more than 40 years, the Department of War’s Family Advocacy Program has worked to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse within couples and military families,” Kelley said. “Hosting this annual recognition event shortly before National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October serves as a driving force — inspiring the sustained, year-round prevention initiatives necessary to support our military families and strengthen our community.”

This year’s honorees are:

Katherine Baker Curtis, FAP specialist, Department of the Army
Sophia Kerry, family advocacy nurse, New Parent Support Program, Department of the Air Force
Joy Baumgartner, New Parent Support Program manager, U.S. Marine Corps
Kristina E. Poole, FAP victim advocate and educator, Department of the Navy
Jennifer N. Scott, Family Programs manager, Defense Logistics Agency

Dr. Lolita Allen, director of MCAD, provided closing remarks, expressing appreciation for the staff’s dedication and their success in developing impactful, localized prevention efforts.

“The Family Advocacy Program takes a comprehensive approach to strengthen protective factors, reduce risks, and enable the department to safeguard service members and their families in support of a ready force,” Allen said. “Through the work of these dedicated professionals, we are able to uphold our commitment to preventing and addressing child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse in military families and intimate partner relationships, and ensuring that families have access to trusted, coordinated and compassionate support.”

FAP provides resources such as the New Parent Support Program. This program is designed to help couples and military families navigate becoming a parent, find a balance between competing life demands and welcome a new baby. This program is staffed with home visitation professionals and designed to help families thrive.

Victim advocates support those who are experiencing domestic abuse. They assist with safety planning and risk assessment during times of need and provide information and resources. Those who reach out are not required to share more than they’re comfortable with. Counseling services are also available. More information about victim advocates is available through this video.

Contact information for the nearest FAP office is available on MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. The Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator lists contact information for victim advocates.

About Military Community and Family Policy

Military Community and Family Policy is responsible for establishing and overseeing policies and programs that help service members, military families and survivors be well and mission ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to programs and services that support the everyday needs of more than 4.3 million service members and the immediate family members of the military community. Access these DOW services 24/7/365 around the world.