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FSC establishes appointment system

  • Published
  • By Alfredia P. McGill
  • Family Support Center
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  Because of the increased number of military personnel and their needing assistance, the Family Support Center has established an appointment system for clients visiting the office.
   "Due to the high volume of clients visiting the FSC on a daily basis and the number of staff members available to assist them, the walk-in-system is no longer a viable way of doing business," said Master Sgt. Gary Smith FSC superintendent. "When clients come to the center they sign in and could possibly wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour before being assisted by a staff member depending on the workload."  
   Since its inception, the FSC has assisted clients on a walk-in basis. With the implementation of the community readiness consultant model, where consultants are assigned to specific units, and additional tenant organizations being served, the walk-in system is no longer an efficient way of doing business.
   According to Sgt. Smith, the change will allow the FSC staff to more effectively manage staff availability, thus providing better service to the center's clients.
   "Our community readiness consultants and technicians are conducting outreach services to the different units on base, assisting walk-ins, completing necessary paper work, and tracking data on clients," Sgt. Smith said. "Some of our clients may require more time than others. In some instances it may only take one hour to assist one client and another client may require three hours. It all depends on the client's situation."
   The FSC staff teaches personal financial management, 10 Steps to a Federal Job, resume writing, salary negotiations and investment classes. They conduct pre-separation, pre-deployment, transition assistance and relocation briefings. The staff also manages the Airman's Attic and Food Pantry.
   "The Airman's Attic and Food Pantry are part of our Family Services area which depends almost entirely on volunteers," he said. "Due to the current volunteer manning status for the attic and pantry, our hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m." 
   The FSC staff will continue to strive to provide resources, services and prevention programs so that military personnel can minimize stress in their lives and stay focused on the mission, Sgt. Smith said.
   For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the FSC at 739-2747 or your unit's community readiness consultant.