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JBSA News
NEWS | Oct. 28, 2015

MFLC program supports military families in confidential setting

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

More than 10 years ago, the Army initiated a confidential counseling program that helps military members and their families cope with the stresses of deployment and other issues unique to the military lifestyle.

Administered by Magellan Health Inc., a health care management company, and MHN Inc., a mental and behavioral health services company, the Military and Family Life Counselor Program is now entrenched on installations throughout the armed services, including Joint Base San Antonio, which is home to more than 30 licensed clinical providers known as MFLCs.

“The program provides short-term, situational, problem-solving, nonmedical life counseling services to active-duty military members, as well as the National Guard and Reserve, and their family members,” Brian Dougherty, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military & Family Readiness Center director, said.

“It’s a non-threatening way for service members and their families to talk to someone in a comfortable setting,” he said.

Dougherty said military members and their families may meet MFLCs in an office at a military and family readiness center, a restaurant, a coffee shop or any place that is convenient for them.

Confidentiality is a key feature of the program, Vonda Ware, JBSA-Lackland M&FRC director, said.

“By far, the biggest attraction of the MFLC program is that those seeking nonmedical counseling through this program are granted confidential and off-the-record counseling, except when mandated to report in cases of preventing harm to self or others, which means they experience no career repercussions or impacts as a result of seeking help,” she said.

Dougherty said service members are often reluctant to seek help because they believe their careers will be affected.

“But in this program, there are no records kept unless there is an indication of child abuse, domestic abuse or other duty-to-warn situations,” he said.

Those cases must be reported to the proper authorities, which, depending on the situation, include the M&FRC director, military police or security forces, and family advocacy and behavioral health professionals.

MFLCs, who have a master’s degree or doctorate in a mental health-related field such as social work, psychology, and marriage and family therapy or counseling, help military members and family members address a variety of issues, Dougherty said.

Some issues stem from the military lifestyle, including deployment stress, coping skills, homesickness, relocation adjustment, reintegration, separation, resiliency and dealing with sadness, grief and loss, while life skill issues range from anger management, communication and relationships to conflict resolution, parenting and decision making.

Dougherty said JBSA has 13 MFLCs for adults, including seven at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, four at JBSA-Lackland and two at JBSA-Randolph.

Three of JBSA-Fort Sam Houston’s MFLCs for adults are embedded in two brigades and one battalion, two support the student population and two are assigned to the M&FRC. JBSA-Randolph’s M&FRCs have two counselors, while JBSA-Lackland has two counselors assigned to the M&FRC and one each embedded in the 802nd Security Forces Squadron and 59th Medical Wing.

The Child and Youth Behavioral Counseling Program is an extension of the MFLC program specifically for young family members. JBSA has 19 MFLCs for children distributed among the schools and youth centers.

“For embedded units, one of the most common issues at JBSA is work-related stress,” Dougherty said. “At military and family readiness centers, common issues are primarily family- and deployment reintegration-related.”

Issues at schools and youth centers relate to child behavior for young children and relationship concerns for older teens and youth, he said.

Statistics show that service members and their families are using MFLC services. In July alone, 1,307 counseling services were provided at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, 677 at JBSA-Lackland and 149 at JBSA-Randolph. Similar numbers were posted in May and June.

Heavy use of MFLC services is occurring at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston training schools, where students experience increased stress due to personal, professional and academic issues, Dougherty said.

“Students are under tremendous pressure, but there are a lot of success stories,” he said.

Master Sgt. Joe Ugarte, JBSA-Randolph Military and Family Readiness NCO in charge, said the program especially helps families cope with the absence of their loved ones during deployments.

“I believe this program is successful because no records are kept and people can meet up with MFLCs at our local coffee shop,” he said. “Sometimes people don’t have anyone to talk to and our MFLCs can provide those short-term solution-focused counseling sessions.”

Dougherty said using MFLC services can also lead to long-term care.

“In my experience, the MFLC program serves as a bridge between service members seeking behavioral health services and not seeking those services,” he said.

Dougherty called the MFLC program “one of the most valuable Department of Defense programs that supports service members and their families.

“It’s like a blessing to them,” he said.