RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Representatives of Randolph's helping agencies gathered together in one place and opened their arms to the base community at a one-day event during Air Force Family Week this week.
The Airman and Family Readiness Center, Mental Health, Family Advocacy, Population Health and 12th Force Support Squadron marketing were among the Integrated Delivery System team members that showcased their diverse services during Air Force Family Wellness Day Tuesday at the Rambler Fitness Center.
The wellness and information fair also featured seminars at the Health and Wellness Center on topics ranging from parenting to credit readiness.
"We just want to bring awareness to our Air Force families about our services," said Mitzi Wood, Family Advocacy intervention specialist. "We want to keep emphasizing that we're trying to take care of them when they need us."
She said the wellness and information fair helped broaden the helping agencies' audience because not everybody who uses the fitness center is aware of those services.
"We're hitting a different population that didn't know we existed," Ms. Wood said. "We're able to get the word out to people who haven't heard of us."
Maj. Lester Loreto, 12th Medical Group health care integrator, said the location of the event was a beneficial one.
"It's hard to attract the general population to something like this if it's outside in a general area," he said. "But in a place like this, it becomes very convenient. So people are able to receive information that can really help them out."
Major Loreto said Population Health was emphasizing diabetes and cancer awareness, but he said some visitors to his table also inquired about the H1N1 vaccine, which he hopes will be available sometime this month.
At the HAWC next door, Maj. Brian Everitt, family advocacy officer, conducted mental health screenings that allowed people to take stock of their emotional state. He agreed that the wellness and information fair expanded awareness of the IDS team's services.
"I think this is great," he said. "It gives us an opportunity to reach a wider population and let them know what the base has to offer to families."
Evelyn Taylor, the wife of a retired Airman who uses the fitness center on a regular basis, collected pamphlets from a variety of helping agencies represented at the event.
"I wanted to get information about staying healthy," she said. "I'm also interested in what's going on at the base."
The event also featured prize drawings for those who attended one of the HAWC seminars or visited the 12th FSS marketing table in the fitness center.