MFLC: New short-term consultant program aids troubled personnel

Published April 18, 2008
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- A listening ear is just a phone call away.
   The Office of the Secretary of Defense recently implemented the Military and Family Life Consultant program at Tinker's Family Support Center. The program was originally scheduled for execution May 19, but due to recent tragedies, it was put into practice in mid-March.
   "This is instant stability for people who are having trials in their life," said Jane Allen, Tinker's FSC flight chief. "We see a lot of folks in here who are going through serious trauma in their lives."
   The MFLC program provides short-term anonymous help to Airmen, Sailors and personnel on base via a licensed social worker with the master's degree. Active duty members take precedence over civilians and contractors.
   No records of conversations are kept and the program is free, but a relationship is not designed to last more than three sessions. If further assistance is needed, clients can be referred to mental health, Military OneSource and Employee Assistance Program resources.
   In the same regard, Ms. Allen said, if a client is being assisted by another program or agency including mental health, family advocacy, or MOS, he is not eligible to participate in the MFLC program. It is a conflict of interest.
   The program is designed to aid clients through situations including marital and family or parenting issues, deployment, communication dilemmas, anxieties, job stresses and grief or loss.
   "The beauty of it is when we have someone in here that's here for financial counseling and (he's) having a hard time in life, we can say, 'Here's our MFLC, why don't you talk to (him) for a minute,'" Ms. Allen said. "We can say, 'We have someone on staff right now (that) can assist you right now, today.'"
   Ms. Allen said the program is best described as "brief solution-focused problem-solving support."
   "We have a lot of clients who come in and a lot of people on base who don't need long-term, they just need someone to talk to one or two times," Ms. Allen said. "They are hesitant to go somewhere that records are going to be kept or that doesn't work well with their work schedules."
   A MFLC is available after-hours and weekends. A consultant is also able to meet with a client outside of the office, on or off base. The only place a consultant may not go is a client's home.
   Yet, the program is not 24-hours a day, nor is it a first responder who answers a call, Ms. Allen said.
   To ensure anonymity and privacy, MFLCs rotate every 45 days.
   The MFLC program serves more than 40 locations worldwide and most service branches. When a new MFLC arrives, his timing will overlap with the MFLC who is ready to leave. The overlap provides a brief training session that doesn't take a Family Support Center consultant away from his job.
   To make an appointment, call 464-6079.