1. Family Assistance Centers

2. Departure or Homecoming The FAC Staff is in place to render help to families and their Service Members as they navigate through coping with life before, during and after a deployment

3. ALL Military branches Active Duty or Reserve The FAC Staff is dedicated to helping the Families and Service Members of ……….

5. It’s a Team Effort

6. Team Effort Family Assistance Center VA Benefits Advisor Individual Units Rear Detachmen t Personnel County Veterans Service Officer Beyond the Yellow Ribbon FRG Groups State Youth Programs MN Workforce Centers Taking care of Service Members and their families is an ongoing team effort by many organizations

7. Minimum FAC Services  ID Cards (1 ID Machine in Mankato FAC Office)  DEERS enrollment  TRICARE information  Emergency financial assistance  Legal information  Crisis referral/intervention FAC’s are not limited to these alone, there are many other services that FAC staff have and will help with as needed during any stage of a deployment…

8. ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY TRAINING Military Awareness training  What do Military Families Need?  How can local resources support military families  What are the opportunities for groups to become formally involved in the Yellow Ribbon Program? Who we get involved:  Community Leaders  Business Leaders  Faith Based Leadership  School District Leadership Preparing the community for the leaving or return of local Service Members is as important as preparing their Families.

9. FAMILY TRAINING We Teach families how to:  Be Empowered  Understand what benefits are available  How to navigate benefits  Where to go for additional assistance  Help prepare families and communities before soldier comes home

10. Some Statistics….

11. Minnesota National Guard 14,200 Soldiers 67 Training and Community centers 103 Family Readiness Groups 585 communities 19 States MichiganKansasColorado Iowa Washington Virginia KentuckySouth Dakota Texas North Dakota California Mississippi Arizona Alabama Illinois Indiana NebraskaArkansas Wisconsin

12. 2009 Total Activity for MN FAC offices

13. The Payoff!

14. Questions? Military Family Assistance Center Contact: Mike Farren, FAC Supervisor, MN 8180 Belden Blvd. Cottage grove, MN. 55016 Office: 651-268-8215 Cell: 612-327-0270 E-mail: mike.farren@us.army.milmike.farren@us.army.mil “You make the call, we make the difference.”