Military and Family Life Consultants offer Offutt families’ assistance Published July 23, 2009 By The Airman and Family Readiness Center 55th Force Support Squadron OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- In 2004, the Department of Defense established the Military and Family Life Consultant Program in response to heightened stress placed on the military, especially on servicemembers marriages and families. The Air Force began using military and family life counselors in the Pacific theater in 2006, the following year in Europe and by 2008 the program was implemented in the United States. Today, counselors offer services at every Air Force base in the United States. Military and family life consultants are experienced social workers, psychologists and marriage and family therapists, who rotate to bases every 45 days. They work out of local Airmen and Family Readiness Centers. At Offutt, the AFRC is located in Bldg 323C, Room 206. All servicemembers, dependents, retirees and DOD civilians are eligible for MFLC services. Counseling can be delivered in individual, couple, family, group or work settings to address a wide array of issues. Some of the issues MFLCs can help with are deployment and reintegration issues, relationships, crisis intervention and stress management. Counseling is also available on or off base and by telephone. Offutt's MFLCs offer the following services to their customers: 1. Free and confidential non-medical, short term, situational, problem solving counseling services to individuals, couples and families. Furthermore, records are not kept about counseling that was offered. However, MFLCs are required by law to report child abuse, domestic abuse, as well as, harm to self or others. Referrals are made to appropriate military resources if necessary. 2. One to three minute briefings about the program to wings, groups, squadrons, flights, agencies, dependent and civilian groups. 3. Presentations, discussions or classes on various military lifestyle and life skills issues including: deployment, reunion, reintegration, stress, post traumatic stress disorder, anger management, relationship issues, communication skills, coping skills, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, homesickness, parenting skills, productivity at work and other occupational issues. To schedule an appointment, briefing or presentation, contact the Offutt MFLC at 402-650-6427 or the AFRC at 402-294-4329.