National Guard families experience challenges that most families don’t. The National Guard Family Program supports families in every phase of guard life — from planning for deployment to coming home — and helps you be ready for whatever lies ahead.
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No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
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MilLife Guides
National Guard Family Program
Overview
About the National Guard Family Program
The National Guard Family Program supports and educates families along the path of their National Guard life. Its vision is to enhance the quality of life for members, their families and the communities in which they live. Its mission is 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.
Each state has a family program director and one to four wing family program coordinators. There are also family readiness groups/key volunteer groups, family readiness assistants and family assistance staff. Learn about the family program accreditation process.
Benefits Guide for National Guard and Family Members
Use this guide for answers to your questions about entitlements and benefits. You will also find contact information for assistance.
Resources for National Guard families
The National Guard provides opportunities and support for families. It also works closely with local, regional and national communities to link their services to the services already available to the guard. Connect with the resources available to you.
Child and youthLearn about the opportunities and support provided by the National Guard Family Program for youth and kids of all ages.
Exceptional Family Member ProgramThe ARNG Exceptional Family Member Program is a Defense Department program that works with civilian and military agencies to provide comprehensive support services to family members with special needs. EFMP provides a defined process to screen exceptional family members (children and adults). To ensure the availability of care during the assignment process, CONUS and OCONUS, soldiers must enroll exceptional family members with special education and medically-related service needs and support.
Family readinessFind out how the National Guard Family Program helps families prepare for what lies ahead. Let us show you how to be “Always Ready, Always There.” Read more »
Military and veteran organizationsThese organizations support veterans and service members:
Safe HelplineThe Defense Department’s Safe Helpline is a groundbreaking crisis-support service for members of the DOD community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline provides live, one-on-one support and information to the worldwide DOD community. The service is confidential, anonymous, secure and available worldwide 24/7 by click, call or text — providing victims with the help they need anytime, anywhere.
Strong BondsStrong Bonds is a unit-based, chaplain-led program that assists commanders in building individual resiliency by strengthening the Army family. The core mission of the Strong Bonds program is to increase individual soldier and family member readiness through relationship education and skills training. Strong Bonds is conducted in an off-site retreat format in order to maximize the training effect. The retreat or “getaway” provides a fun, safe and secure environment in which to address the impact of relocations, deployments and military lifestyle stressors.
Veterans Crisis LineThe Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders. through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Support for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing is available.
In some instances, callers may experience difficulty connecting with the Veterans Crisis Line. If you have trouble reaching the call line, please connect to chat, or text 838255 for immediate support.
Vets4WarriorsVets4Warriors’ mission is to provide 24/7 confidential, stigma-free peer support by veterans to active-duty, National Guard and reserve service members, veterans, retirees and their families or caregivers.
Family Assistance CentersFamily Assistance Centers provide a variety of referral-based services to geographically dispersed families and retirees from all military components. Services include, but are not limited to, ID cards and Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System enrollment, TRICARE and military medical benefits education, emergency financial services, legal information and referral, crisis intervention and referral, and community information and referral.
TRICARETRICARE is the health care program for service members (active, Guard/reserve, retired) and their families around the world. TRICARE is a major part of the Military Health System that:
- Combines the resources of military hospitals and clinics with civilian health care networks
- Provides access to high-quality health care
- Supports military operations
Youth ServicesThe Child and Youth Services offers outcome-based activities designed to foster positive youth development and support the unique strengths and challenges of National Guard children.
Personalized support for your well-being
National Guard members and their families shoulder a heavy load at times. Military OneSource offers free, confidential counseling and consultations to help your family stay strong through the challenges of military life.
Military OneSource non-medical counselors understand military life and how to support families like yours. A non-medical counselor can help you cope with loss, ease conflict at home or work, manage anger or stress, adjust to changes, like returning from deployment, and much more. Sessions are available in person, by phone, secure video or online chat.
Improve connections with the people in your life — your partner, your child, your blended family. Each track focuses on a specific relationship or situation and helps you set goals and strengthen your communication skills. Sessions are available by phone or video.
Boost your efforts to eat well and get fit, manage stress or cope with a life change. Your coach will help you set goals and create a plan to meet them.
Virtual tools to bring out your best
Access free resilience tools and online apps anywhere, anytime. These tools offer convenience and portability for meeting wellness goals, managing stress, strengthening your relationships and building resilience.
- Recommended Wellness Apps were developed by the Defense Department and its partners specifically for military members and their families. You’ll find apps for parents and children, as well as those designed to help service members become more mission-ready.
- Love Every Day is a fun, interactive way to strengthen your relationship with your partner.
- MoodHacker lets you track, understand and improve how you’re feeling.
- CoachHub connects you with a professional coaching expert to help motivate you as you work toward your health and wellness goals.
Support for your family’s education and career goals
Your National Guard family is eligible for resources to help students of all ages succeed in school — and in some cases, to help pay for it. Military spouses have access to a suite of benefits and services to help them advance in their careers as well.
- The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program provides education and career guidance, resources and online tools to military spouses. Services include free career coaching, online assessments, resume help, mock interviews, a scholarship finder and more.
- My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program provides military spouses with up to $4,000 financial assistance for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or an associate degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field. MyCAA is open to spouses of active-duty service members, as well as National Guard and reserve members on Title 10 military orders. Spouses of service members in pay grades E-1 through E-6, W-1 through W-2 and O-1 through O-3 who have successfully completed high school and have the ability to request tuition assistance while their military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders are eligible.
- The Military Spouse Employment Partnership connects military spouses with employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses. The online MSEP job search lists openings at these companies and organizations. You can also take advantage of the Job Search Navigator to have customized job leads delivered to your inbox.
- The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits to eligible National Guard members and reservists.
- Support for pre-K-12 education for families with children includes information and resources to help you build a strong foundation of learning for your child.
- The DOD MWR Libraries are packed with ebooks, audiobooks, reference books and databases for all ages. The MWR Digital Library also includes online tutoring through Tutor.com.
Expert assistance for navigating life
Sometimes it helps to talk to an expert. Military OneSource offers specialized assistance with a wide range of individualized consultations for many aspects of military life.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT SERVICES TO ACCESSING EXPERT ASSISTANCE FOR NAVIGATING LIFE
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