Family Resource Network
Key topics
Organizations aligned with our Family Resource Network are focused on empowering and caring for the spouses, partners, and family members of service members and veterans. Participants in this network build community, social support, and relationships to enrich the lives of military and veteran families and increasing their access to social supports and peer-to-peer networks.
Ensuring spouses, partners, and family members have a community of support and know where to turn for help or social connection
Creating awareness about the range of programs and services available to spouses and families, including Caregivers and Survivors among all service providers and submitting events to the shared calendar using the tag #families and other tags so they appear above and on relevant resource or regional pages, including for #caregivers, #spouses, and #survivors.
Encouraging information sharing, inclusion, and coordination of services to support spouses, partners, and family members, including to support proactive referrals to social and wellness activities and opportunities for growth and professional development
Sharing opportunities for collaboration, events, and partnerships to encourage broader engagement of military and veteran families, both for direct services and support and as partners in the care of service members and veterans
Creating space for participants who are military and veteran family members to share their unique perspectives, experiences, and challenges
Forming affinity groups to organize and facilitate community summits on relevant topics and issues and to collect and share information and resources on this page
Ensuring all summits include discussion of relevant information regarding the topic as it relates to family members, including as conduits of resources for service members and veterans
-
On January 24, 2018, the Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative convened a Family & Caregiver Support Summit, hosted by the Massachusetts Army National Guard Family Program at the Wellesley Armory. This summit focused on family and caregiver support programs for service members and veterans. We heard from:
– Massachusetts Army National Guard Family Program
– Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund
– Jason Courneen, Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver Fellow for Massachusetts
– US Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III, Massachusetts 4th Congressional District
– BG Francis B. Magurn, Assistant Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters-Massachusetts, Hanscom Air Force Base
The speaking program was followed by a dynamic discussion and Q&A with presenters and representatives from various government and nonprofit organizations.