THE MILITARY FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM
Celebrating 25 Years of Support to Military Families
Canada has a long history of supporting military families. In fact, 2016 will mark a pivotal milestone of dedicated programs and services intended to support military families across Canada. The Military Family Services Program, established formally in 1991 by the Government of Canada, honours, acknowledges and supports families’ contributions to the Canadian Armed Forces by ensuring programs and services are in place to see them through the life events that necessarily ensue as part of the profession of arms.
The Canadian Armed Forces has been engaged in almost continuous operations since 1990 with more than 20 major operational missions the world over. Few occupations or professions expose the overwhelming majority of its people to recurring geographic relocation, relentless separation and elevated levels of risk as a matter of course throughout much of their careers. Support to families has been elevated to a top institutional priority for much of this period and the Military Family Services Program has been a cornerstone for family support, promoting and facilitating community-based services that strengthen the resilience of military families and their communities.
The Program, stewarded by Military Family Services, a division of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, works closely withmore than thirty Military Family Resource Centres from coast-to-coast-to-coast.The Military Family Services Program consists of a network of programs and services delivered both centrally andlocally on bases, and across the United States and Europe.
Over the past twenty-five years, supportservices have expanded and changed as the needs of Canadian military families have evolved and the direct link between family health and resilience, and military operational readiness and effectiveness has become clearer.
Today, military families can access the Military Family Services Programthrough three entry points, including Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs), the Family Information Line and
Military Family Resource Centres are at the heart of their military communities. Overseen by community-based volunteer Boards of Directors, MFRCs are run by families for families. Based on the philosophical principals and framework of the Military Family Service Program, MFRCs offer programs and services locally.
The Family Information Line, an evolution of the Mission Information Line, ensures trained counsellors are accessible by telephone and email to military families, members and Veterans, and the extended military community. These helping professionals provide 24/7 bilingual confidential support, information and referral services specific to the military family lifestyle.
Accessible across the globe a website for and about Canadian military families and provides Canadian military families with resources to improve their overall quality of life. It also links them to their local Military Family Resource Centre and their specific offerings of services.
As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Military Family Services Program, we also celebrate more importantly the contributions of military families themselves and their support of the Canadian Armed Forces.