What is Enduring Families?
Enduring Families is a one day workshop that takes place 21-45 days after a Service Member returns from a deployment. This workshop is mandatory for Soldiers. Family members are highly encouraged to attend.
What is the intent of Enduring Families?
The intent of the workshop is to ease the transition from an active duty lifestyle back to civilian life, to assist families readjusting to each other and their new roles.
What incentives are offered to volunteers who attend?
Volunteers who live more than 50 miles, one way, from the location of the Enduring Family Workshop will be eligible to receive mileage reimbursement at a rate of $0.485 per mile, Per Diem, and will qualify for a hotel room on the Friday night prior to the workshop.
Lunch is catered and provided at the location of the workshop.
If I do decide to volunteer what is expected of me during the workshops?
On the Friday before the workshop all volunteers are required to attend a meeting from 7:00-9:00 pm at the location of the workshop. This allows the team to meet, decide who will facilitate each breakout, and to learn about the dynamics of the unit participating in the workshop.
On Saturday all volunteers are expected to be at the location of the workshop by 8:00 am. The last breakout session ends at 3:45 pm.
Who can volunteer as a “Professional Volunteer” for Enduring Families?
All volunteers are welcome in the Iowa National Guard, however for this particular program we are specifically looking for individuals who have the following training or background:
CISM Training – Critical Incident Stress Management
Veterans
Mental Health/Medical/Social Work Backgrounds
Chaplains
Firefighters/Police/Paramedics/EMT
If you do not have the above backgrounds but are still interested in volunteering please contact Ashley Randall, contact information listed below. All volunteers must agree to take a CISM training session within one year of becoming an Enduring Family Professional Volunteer. To learn more about CISM please contact Ashley Randall.
Can youth/teens participate in an Enduring Families workshop?
No. Currently Enduring Family workshops are limited to adult participation. If you are interested in receiving support for your youth/teen or in supporting the Iowa National Guard Youth Program please contact Jeremy VanWyk at 515-252-4040 or Jeremy.vanwyk@us.army.mil or contact your Family Assistance Center Specialist (FAC).
What classes are offered during the workshop?
Each workshop is divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session will be divided into three breakout sessions:
(a) Soldiers
(b) Spouses/Significant Others
(c) Parents/Adult Siblings
In the afternoon, attendees may choose which facilitated session they wish to attend. These sessions can be attended as families or individually:
(a) Couples Focus Group
(b) Parenting Focus Group
(c) Stress Management
(d) Single Soldier Focus Group
Who facilitates these sessions?
You as the Professional Volunteers facilitate these sessions. All breakout session are confidential and have no paid Iowa National Guard staff present. Ideally each breakout will have three (3) volunteers and twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) attendees.
Who do I contact if I have any more questions about Enduring Families?
You may call 515-252-4493 or email
NGIA.FRG.JFHQ@ng.army.mil
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