In 2015, MFRI convened diverse, high-ranking individuals to discuss and distill lessons learned about serving military families after 9/11. Participants included top U.S. policymakers, representatives of Congress and Department of Defense leaders. Leaders in the fields of corporate, philanthropy, behavioral health, higher education and research also attended. The result? “A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families” (Hughes-Kirchubel, MacDermid Wadsworth & Riggs, 2018), now available at Springer publishing.
Experienced leaders offer insights about support for military families
This is the fourth book in MFRI’s “Risk and Resilience in Military and Veteran Families” series. It offers key insights that focus on how organizations can produce powerful support for military families during war. Furthermore, contributors integrated knowledge gained during their work with families after 9/11 and distilled recommendations into practical, experience-based chapters. For additional information about “Battle Plan,” please download the fact sheet.
A roadmap for the future
In addition, “Battle Plan” acts as a roadmap for support of military and veteran families by addressing how to:
- Integrate family support systems into defense strategy.
- Anticipate issues and challenges that are likely to affect military families.
- Adopt policies that help, not hinder, military families during times of conflict.
- Ensure that military families have a voice in the conversation.
- Identify urgent gaps in support systems.
- Navigate the rapidly changing world of service organizations.
- Plan more effectively for medical and caregiving needs.
- Provide the resources military and veteran families need after military conflicts wind down.
Most importantly, service members need to know that their families are taken care of during deployment. When they do, they can focus on their military mission. “Battle Plan” provides an action plan for future leaders and organizations committed to supporting these families.
Learn more
For media inquiries and other questions, contact Kathy Broniarczyk, MFRI’s senior director of outreach and operations.
“A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families” contributes an important resource and reference for leaders, practitioners and researchers. The framework is a brilliant and balanced approach, integrating existing knowledge, diverse perspectives and experience with thoughtful recommendations.”
Mary Keller, President and CEO of the Military Child Education Coalition
2018 Building Your Battle Plan recording
The panel discussion starts at the 20:00 mark.
The 2017 and 2018 MFRI Excellence in Research on Military and Veteran Families awards presentation starts at the 1:39:47 mark.