Planning a Family Day

Remember, this is the Commander’s program. They need to determine the focus. While you can present them your and your committee’s ideas, ultimately it is up to the Commander.

Who will be a part of your planning team?

Why – what is the purpose?

Where will the event be held?

When will you hold the event?

Who will attend?

What will you do?

Planning a Family Day

Information or Resource Fair: this is a way to share information with the service members and families about benefits, entitlements and resources. Below is a list of organizations that can be invited and how to contact them.

Military One Source – www.militaryonesource.mil - you can request a resource table, Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC) and Financial Counselors.

National Guard Resources – you can find a number of resources that might be able to attend your event or send resources through the JSS website at: https://www.jointservicessupport.org/Default.aspx

o Family Program Director / Airman and Family Readiness Programo Family Readiness Support Assistanto Child & Youth Program Coordinatoro Transition Assistance Advisorso Financial Counselorso Psychological Health Programo Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR)o Employment (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve – ESGR)

or go to http://www.esgr.mil/ o Survivor Outreach Services – serves Gold Star families – would be a

good contact if you want to invite these families to your event Veterans Groups – a director of Veterans Service Organizations can be

located at http://www.va.gov/vso/VSO-Directory_2013-2014.pdf o Veterans of Foreign Wars – www.vfw.org o American Legion – www.legion.orgo Disabled American Veterans – www.dav.org

Veterans Administration, find your local Vet Center and Veterans Administration centers. They often have outreach that will attend your unit’s events. http://www.va.gov/landing2_locations.htm

Medical Dental - http://www.tricare.mil/ o Tri-Care – you can get information about Tricare Reserve Select sent

and sometimes can get representatives. Contact your regional office http://www.tricare.mil/About/Regions/TSC.aspx.

Planning a Family Day

o Met Life (dental) – see if you can get a rep - http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Dental/TDP.aspx

Family Groups and other supporto Blue Star Families – www.bluestarfamilies.orgo Blue Star Mothers of America – www.bluestarmothers.orgo American Gold Star Mothers – www.goldstarmoms.como Gold Star Wives of America – www.goldstarwives.org o Our Military Kids – www.ourmilitarykids.orgo Operation Military Kids: OMK – You can request hero packs for your

children and youth www.operationmilitarykids.orgo Operation Homefront – www.operationhomefront.neto Patriot Guard Riders – www.patriotguard.org o Tutor.com (free tutoring for military youth) –

www.tutor.com/military - they can send informationo Sitter City (helps locate a variety of services) –

www.sittercity.com/DoD - they can send informaitono USAA – www.usaa.org - the USAA Educational Foundation has a

number of free informational booklets they can send you. You can get a representative to attend your event.