New community support liaison aims to bring back strong relationships Published Nov. 30, 2012 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Karen Blackwell knows a thing or two about resiliency. As the 72nd Air Base Wing's new community support coordinator liaison, it is her job to ensure Tinker Airmen are also well versed. Among her responsi-bilities, Ms. Blackwell oversees resilience training, which teaches positive coping skills as well as making sure military members and civilians are strong in the four dimensions of wellness -- physical, mental, social and spiritual. "I see the resilience training as a way to help people in a structured and enduring way prepare Airmen and their families for adverse events before they occur," Ms. Blackwell said. "I think we as a society, have lost the art of seeing 'the good stuff' that happens to us and instead focus on the negative. This resiliency skills training helps us gain back our positive outlook." Ms. Blackwell accepted the position in late October. In addition to responsibilities associated with resiliency training, she also chairs the Integrated Delivery System where she works with the Family Advocacy outreach manager, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response coordinator, mental health officer, health promotion manager, Airman and Family Readiness flight chief and a chaplain, among others. Together, they develop services to support Tinker's personnel through partnerships. Additionally, she's an executive on the Community Action Information Board. Within her role, Ms. Blackwell develops action plans focusing resolving base challenges that prevent people from being resilience in all four disciplines of wellness. "Karen was hired as the community support liaison for her experience and knowledge of the multitude of agencies that contribute to the CAIB and IDS as well as her vision for renewing the focus and support strategy of the services these agencies provide to Team Tinker," said Col. Stephen Wood, 72nd ABW vice commander and Ms. Blackwell's supervisor. "Overall, Karen is both charismatic and driven, which is the right blend of characteristics to make a difference for Team Tinker." Prior to her current role, Ms. Blackwell served as the 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Health Promotions Flight chief, a job she held since 2005. While she focused primarily on the physical dimension of a balanced wellbeing, she also gained a health respect for taking care of oneself. "This is more of an expansion from my last role because now I'm dealing with all areas of wellness and not just focused on fitness, nutrition and tobacco," she said. "I'm working full-time now whereas before I worked on those ideas on a part-time basis."