News

Straight Talk: Offutt's Military And Family Life Consultant Program

  • Published
  • By Airman and Family Readiness Center
The Office of the Secretary of Defense recognized the need to provide support to military members and their families, in addition to existing counseling and support services. The program was first adopted by the U.S. Army and later implemented, with some modifications, by the Air Force at overseas locations. Successes of the program led to the decision to make the program available stateside.

Similar to overseas, the program is intended to augment existing military support services and meet the emerging needs for active duty Airmen, guardsmen, reservists and their family members.

What does the consultant do?
A consultant for the Military and Family Life Program meets with Airmen and/or their family members whenever there is an issue they would like help to resolve. Although the consultant stays at Offutt on a 45-day rotation, there is always a consultant available to help military members. A consultant also provides briefings or educational presentations on general topics that can be helpful to groups, staff meetings, family readiness group meetings, commanders' calls and spouses groups.

Who does this program help?
The MFLC Program helps all active duty or retired service members, spouses and their family members. Most members of the Offutt community can request an appointment or meet informally with a consultant.

What type of issues can people talk to consultants about?
The types of situations that are typical are work and personal stress, grief and loss, relationship issues, parenting challenges and adapting to changes in life. Everyone at one time or another can benefit from talking about a problem to someone who will listen.

How does this program help people work through these problems/issues?
Consulting is not therapy. It is a process of expressing concerns and finding solutions. The consultant uses a problem-solving model that identifies stressors and helps the person develop an action plan to ease stress and improve daily life. Consultants don't provide long-term support. If a person requires long-term support, a referral to a local helping agency would be made.

What hours is the consultant available and how does someone make an appointment?
An appointment can be made by contacting the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 294-4329 or by calling the MFLC cell phone number 650-6427. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, consultants are available 24/7 via the MFLC cell phone. Appointments can be made outside of business hours for the convenience of military members and an alternate office space will be arranged. Calls after 8 p.m. will be returned the next day.


Additional information
To insure the privacy of the military member, no records are kept. However, certain circumstances, such as threat of harm to oneself or others, child abuse, sexual abuse, spouse abuse, elder abuse, substance abuse or those on the personnel reliability program require Air Force protocol be followed.