DOD consultant program available to Tinker families Published May 13, 2009 By Airman and Family Readiness Center Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., -- In 2004, as a result of the heightened stress placed on the military, their marriages and their families, the Department of Defense established the Military and Family Life Consultant Program to augment existing military support services. The protocol for the Air Force was approved by the Integrated Delivery Service/Community Action Information Board at the Pentagon. The Air Force began using the program in the Pacific in 2006, in Europe in 2007 and in the United States in 2008. There is now an MFLC on every Air Force base in the United States. Consultants, housed at the Airman and Family Readiness Centers, are experienced social workers, psychologists and marriage and family therapists who rotate to bases every 45 days. At Tinker, the A&FRC is located at 6001 Arnold Street. Active duty, Guard, Reserve, dependents, retirees and individuals on the installation are eligible for MFLC services. Services can be delivered in individual, couple, family, group and work settings to address deployment and reintegration issues, relationships, crisis intervention, stress management, grief after loss, transitions, occupational issues including job stress, job loss, job change or transition and other issues requiring problem solving assistance. Services may be delivered on or off military installations and by telephone. The consultant program offers three types of services: · Non-medical, short term, situational, problem solving counseling services to individuals, couples, families. The counseling services are free, confidential and no records are kept. However, consultants are mandated reporters of child abuse, domestic abuse, harm to self or others, and other duty to warn situations. Referrals are made to appropriate military resources if needed. · One- to three-minute briefings about the program to wings, groups, squadrons, flights, agencies, dependent and civilian groups. · Presentations, discussions or classes on various Military Lifestyle and Life Skills issues including deployment, reunion and reintegration, stress, anger management, relationship issues, communication skills, coping skills, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, homesickness, parenting skills, productivity at work and other occupational issues. To schedule an appointment, briefing or presentation, call the Tinker Military and Family Life consultant at 464-6079 or the A&FRC at 739-2747. The MFLC can e-mail a list of all classes offered to assist in meeting needs. E-mail requests to a&frc@tinker.af.mil.