USO Warrior and Family Care - PowerPoint Presentation

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USO Warrior and Family CarePresented By: Donald LeingangExecutive Director, USO Northwest

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide2

Newly integrated division focuses on supporting and comforting, connecting and

entertaining for those service members and their families that need us most.

This

new structure provides a long-term organizational framework that is better aligned with the way we do business now and in the future, given the USO’s increasing focus on easing troops’ reintegration into the family and community as they begin to return home in increasing numbers.USO of NC established Troops and Family Programs Office to reinforce USO WFC Division and to expand services/programs beyond WII and in more geographical locations in North Carolina.

The New USO Warrior and Family Care Division

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide3

Those Who Need Us MostRecognizing that we have the most married military since the Civil War,

the USO emphasizes support for the military family.

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Deployed/Active Duty Troops

Families of Deployed/Active Duty Troops

WII, their Families and Caregivers

Families of the Fallen

USO proudly serves Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves and their families

And , in North Carolina , Military RetireesSlide4

Strategy Development

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

- Supporting

& Comforting- Connecting

- Entertaining

Ride2Recovery

Caregivers Conferences

Stronger Families

Camps & Retreats

USO2GO

Holiday Boxes

We say “Thank you” on behalf of all Americans.

This thank you, in the form of valued programs & services helps our troops and their families feel appreciated for their service to our country.

Lift Spirits

of our troops and their families

** Refine strategy (ways and means) based on evaluation of performance measures (outputs and outcomes)

Hire Heroes USA Workshops

Career Opportunity Days

Team Red White & Blue

United Through Reading’s Military Program

Pro vs. GI Joe

MEGS

Fill Vital Gaps within the Military Community and ServicesSlide5

Programs For Active Duty and Military Families

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Programs For Active Duty and Military Families

Supporting & ComfortingSlide6

Sesame Workshop

The USO has partnered with Sesame Workshop since 2008 in an effort to provide resources that help to build resilience in pre-school aged children. Topics range from military specific, like deployments and changes, to losing a loved one and divorce.

Available Resources:

When Families Grieve DVD Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce DVD2012 Program Impact:97.4%

said they were satisfied

95% Would rate program as valuable

In Fall 2013 Sesame will launch the general resiliency Little Children, Big Challenges.

This project

will

provide families with tools

that cut across generations and groups to help develop

resiliency

skills when facing everyday challenges and transitions.

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide7

USO Holiday BoxesUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

USO Holiday Boxes bring a true touch of home to troops in remote locations and are sent on four occasions during the year to celebrate Super Bowl/Valentine’s day, Summer Holidays, Halloween/Thanksgiving and Winter (to include Christmas & Hanukkah).

Program Availability

Holiday-season specific and include costumes, snacks, movies, decorations, etc to bring cheerEach box is intended to support around 50 peopleGoal: 285 in 2013

2012 Program Impact:

280 boxes distributed to 211 locations100% of troops felt support upon receiving the boxes

90% of troops felt the items were excellentSlide8

North Carolina Unique Programs and ServicesUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

USO of NC mirrors many of the national USO programs but provides:

Resiliency Programs

Reading and Study Skill SeminarsWellness CampsFuture Satellite Centers on Selected College Campuses

Transition Assistance – beyond the WII programs and to the entire force in multiple locations across the state

Personal Financial Seminars (FY2014)

Deployment and Homecoming Support

Professional and College Sporting Events

Three Airport Centers, Two Base-support Centers, and Mobile Center

Smiles Over Miles and other supportive

porgrams

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Programs For Wounded, Ill and Injured Troops, Their Families and Caregivers, as well as Families Of The Fallen

Supporting & Comforting

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide10

Ongoing Center Support for WII/FFUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl

Fort Belvoir Warrior and Family Support Center

WFC Programs delivered in center, not to mention ongoing fabulous support throughout DC Metro for WII by USO Metro DCFamilies of the Fallen Support at Dover and all three USO-NC Airport CentersHonors Support Teams at RDU, Charlotte and Fayetteville AirportsSlide11

Funding RequestsUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide12

Funding RequestsUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide13

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesWarrior Care Packs and R&R Duffels

The USO provides Warrior Care Packs to wounded, ill or injured troops around the world during medical evacuations from the battlefield. Often during these evacuations troops uniforms are destroyed and these packs provide basic necessities during their transition period.

Warrior Care Pack:

The backpack contains a short sleeve shirt, shorts, underwear, socks, shower shoes, fleece blanket, hygiene kit, sports bra (female kits only).

Other items upon request: sweatshirt, tear-away pant, winter hats, gloves, mittens

The R&R Duffels are for troops as they fly back from Europe or Afghanistan to stateside.

R&R Duffels:

The

large duffel bag contains a pillow

, pillowcase, XL twin sheets, fleece blanket, towel, shower shoes, hygiene kit

, and shorts.

Other Items:

fleece hat, gloves, mittens, winter coat, rain jacket, baseball

cap

Program Availability:

SWA, Europe, and select Stateside Centers received 1,000

Warrior Care Packs at the end of 2012

Currently working on distribution plan for 2013

SWA Centers are helping to identify smaller locations that need these itemsSlide14

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesUSO Caregivers Conference

USO Caregivers Conferences

are events that

provide

caregivers a chance to focus on

themselves

and their own emotions to help

build

personal resiliency. The event connects caregivers of wounded, ill and injured service men and women with experts and those who share similar experiences. It gives them the opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment and learn about resources and

programs

available to them.

Locations

have included: Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg, San Antonio, and Camp Pendleton

Program

focuses on practical skills for improving:

Communicating With Your Loved One After Injury

Caregiver’s Resources: VA Benefits, Education, Employment

Taking Care of You!

Support for Kids of Injured Heroes

Resiliency and Burnout: How To Take Care of Yourself

Confidence Boosting and Laughter: Learning to Stay Optimistic During a Difficult Time

Program Outcomes

100% of San Antonio Participants would attend again

90% of Camp Pendleton Participants would attend againSlide15

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

USO partners with TAPS to provide Survivor Seminars and Good Grief Camps as well as Kids Camp Outs. These camps and seminars provide support for families of the fallen by teaching family members about grief and loss and understanding how they can best cope and find comfort.

Program focuses on:Providing tools and information for healingProviding a comforting communityTeaching children ways to communicate and cope with loss2012 Program Impact –

6 Seminar and Good Grief Camps held at 6 different locations“I had such a nice time with all of you this weekend. It's the first time I felt like I fit in somewhere since my husband’s passing. Looking forward to many more events with my new TAPS family.”

In 2013 the USO will partner with

TAPS to support 6 Survivor Seminars and Good Grief Camps as well as 4 Kids Camp Outs. The USO will also support TAPS and the Families of the Fallen by providing 1,000 TAPS Survivor Resource Kits for survivors who have lost a loved one.Slide16

Stronger Families Oxygen Seminars

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Stronger Families partners with the USO to provide one or two-day workshops for military couples to help strengthen their relationship.

Coaches work with groups of approximately 10-15 couples who are facing challenges in their relationships as a result of wounds (both visible and invisible), injury or illness. Expanding to AD in 2013. Program focuses on practical skills for improving:CommunicationResolving conflict

Rekindling romance and finding new hope2012 Program Impact –

12 Seminars held at 8 different locations100% of all couples said that they would use the information they obtained to help make their relationship more resilient, and that it would help them in their reintegration

process

100

% of the couples said they would recommend the program to

others

In 2013 the USO will partner with Stronger Families to provide 20 Wounded, Ill, and Injured Seminars, 5 Active Duty Seminars, 5 Train the Trainer Seminars, and 30 Chaplain Led Seminars Slide17

With You All The Way Tour and Program

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

As a stand-up comedian for kids, Trevor Romain has been on several USO tours to entertain military children. He has created an array of kits designed to support military children such as dealing with deployment, reintegration, visible and invisible wounds, and loss of a loved one.

Available Resources:Deployment KitsTaking Care of You Kits

Memory BoxesWith You All the Way Tour that provides Empowerment Packs

2012 Program Impact:

99.8% of attendees were satisfied

96% saw value in the program

Trevor’s upcoming tour locations include: Twenty-nine Palms

(April 8-12),

Fort Gordon

(May 6-10),

Whidbey Island

(May 13-17)

, and Fort Benning

(September 16-20)

.Slide18

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families Programs For Active Duty and Military Families

Connecting EntertainingSlide19

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Collaborate with Pro vs. GI Joe to provide deployed service members an opportunity to go head-to-head in a video game competition against their favorite professional athletes, celebrities or entertainers at various events and venues.

Reach: 105 Events since 2008Goals: 20 Events at various locations in 2013

Pro vs. GI JoeSlide20

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

The USO in collaboration with United Through Reading® to host its nationally recognized program at select USO Centers Worldwide. Whether troops are stationed at a forward operating base in Afghanistan or deploying overseas, they can visit their participating USO Center to read a story to a special child in their life. This is all captured on video and the USO mails this priceless DVD and book home. Children can watch and listen to their parent anytime.

Reach: 43,025 readings in 2012

Goals: 45,000 recordings hosted at 75 USO locations in 2013

United Through ReadingSlide21

Field Program SupportUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide22

Programs For Wounded, Ill and Injured Troops, Their Families and Caregivers, as well as Families Of The Fallen

Connecting Entertaining

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their FamiliesSlide23

USO/Hire Heroes USAUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Hire Heroes USA offers transition assistance, job search assistance, and job placement services to those who have honorably served in the US military – and to their spouses – in order to reduce veteran unemployment.

USO and HHUSA partner to provide the opportunities to transitioning service members, their spouses and caregivers (current focus on WII, piloting in 2013 for transitioning general active duty [AD

]

population)

Transition

Workshop

Resume writing

Interview skills/mock interviews with employers

Strategic planning for employment

Goal

setting

Career Opportunity Day

Networking with various employers

Introductory interviews with hiring managers/recruiters

Increased schedule for 2013:

73 Transition Workshops

67 WII

6 AD

31 Career Opportunity Days

25 WII

6 ADSlide24

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Transition Workshop Outcomes –

Conducted 25 Transition Workshops in 8 different locations

95% participants would rate instructor’s subject matter knowledge as excellent 

97% participants would strongly recommend to fellow service members  92% participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were more confident in their ability to effectively represent themselves in a job

interview

Career

Opportunity

Day Outcomes

–

Hosted 9 Career Opportunity Days in 7 different locations

Service Members

90

% participants rated their overall experience as very satisfied or

satisfied

98% of participants would recommend the COD to others 

93% learned new information that would help in career

search

Employers

87% would recommend the COD to other employers 

USO/Hire Heroes USA

Impact 2012Slide25

USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Operation JumpStart is a two-day workshop that offers WII, spouses and caregivers the opportunity to learn whether or not starting a business is right for them. The workshop help participants identify if their business idea is feasible and how to take the next step forward on the entrepreneurial journey.

Participant Benefits

Create a Feasibility Analysis deliverable that serves as the basis for future business planning efforts

and assist in developing an “actionable” plan for subsequent efforts focused on launching a new venture.Operation JumpStart will conduct 11 two-day workshops in 2013 at many different locations to include Balboa Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, JB Lewis-

McChord

, Camp Lejeune, Kaneohe Bay/Schofield Barracks,

Twentynine

Palms, Fort Bragg, Fort

Benning

and Fort Belvoir.

Syracuse University Institute For Veterans and Military Families: Operation JumpStartSlide26

Team Red, White and BlueUSO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families

Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB) enriches the lives of America’s combat veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

P

rogram Focuses On:Providing the attendees with the very best in instruction, coaching, and equipment

Providing the attendees with a sense of community and accomplishment

2013 Schedule:

Team RWB Yoga Camp in September at Chicago, IL. This camp will support a total of 30 WII.

Team RWB Trail Running Camp in November at Rock Spring, TX. The camp will be led by Liza Howard, professional endurance athlete and winner of ultra-marathons. A team of professionals will provide expert coaching to 75 veterans and service members on the sport of trail running.

Program Testimonials:

“The sense that others understood my eccentricities for what they were and where they came from”.

Better understanding and new passion to try new things that sounded over the top prior to the camp”.Slide27

Questions?USO Warrior and Family Care…Supporting, Comforting, Connecting and Entertaining America’s Troops and their Families