After engaging in this course, learners will be able to: Define and assess barriers to achieving financial readiness and military family well-being in the context of military family quality of life. Identify and understand possible career and financial implications for each of five major service transitions and their impact on military families and their quality of life, including (1) joining the military, (2) deployment, (3) permanent change of station (PCS), (4) leaving the military, and (5) major life events. Define and discuss ways to assess financial literacy, financial well-being, and financial security within the context of a military family. Apply an ecological lens to military family well-being, including how financial readiness can offer a foundation to improve quality of life. Discuss innovative approaches, tools, and technologies to assist military families in accessing financial assistance, readiness, and educational programs.

Identify the eight dimensions of wellness in the Total Force Fitness concept. Describe how the eight dimensions of wellness affect each other. Discuss the risk factors for food insecurity for the U.S. military. Describe methods for identifying and assisting economic and/or food-insecure service members.

Identify the unique challenges military spouses face in balancing employment responsibilities with the demands of military life, including frequent relocations and deployments, and how these challenges affect family well-being. Describe what the Department of Defense has implemented to collectively address the barriers around military spouse employment in support of military readiness and retention. Recognize the correlation between military family systems of support and their economic well-being.

By the end of this webinar presentation, attendees will be able to: Identify the various factors, often called the “social drivers of health,” or SDOH, that influence health and well-being. Identify a mindset that empowers providers to focus on understanding the root causes of health and wellness challenges and to be change agents for positive outcomes. Identify that such a mindset requires a holistic or ecological approach to understanding how underlying contextual factors, individual circumstances, institutions, and programs interact with each other. Demonstrate how various organizations and institutions are fostering efforts to encourage awareness and action to address health disparities and to promote well-being – with a special focus on the U.S. military and the Cooperative Extension system. Identify various state and federal programs that can contribute to military family health and wellness, with a special focus on TRICARE, VA health benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. Discuss possible new programs and policy developments relevant to military family health and well-being.

Learning Objectives: Understand current research on how military spouse un- and underemployment influences military family financial, physical, and social health. Apply a socio-ecological framework to diagnosis barriers to maintaining employment through the military family life cycle. Learn new Department of Defense, employer and non-profit resources that address holistic military spouse employment needs.

Identify personal and societal beliefs about aging. Describe aging and lifespan development theories. Examine ideas of opportunity and loss with aging. Identify strategies to help address implicit bias.

Apply at least two specific communication techniques to improve interactions with individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. Identify and articulate two strategies for maintaining appropriate boundaries. Describe and apply an ethical decision-making framework to reduce ethical dilemmas.

Understand the science of addiction and the impact of SUD on military family well-being. Describe financial recovery capital and the relationship between financial stress and addiction. Identify Extension tools designed to bolster financial management capability for individuals in SUD recovery.

Describe three key features of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Community Innovation and Outreach (CIAO) project at Fort Campbell, including its novel use of administrative data. Evaluate the outcomes and lessons learned from opening the Fort Bragg WIC Office, a joint effort between Fort Bragg and Cumberland County Department of Public Health. Following a process similar to one being implemented at Fort Campbell, use a new WIC eligibility screening tool to identify Service members and military families who may be eligible for WIC. Describe how military practitioners successfully engaged community partners when developing a robust resource, the Fort Drum Food Resource Guide, to disseminate food security information.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape of military spouse employment. Explore the human resources function and acquire tips for successfully navigating it as both an applicant and an employee. Utilize practical tools to effectively communicate with and educate employers about the challenges and opportunities related to military spouse employment. Find inspiration to continue advocating for the personal and societal importance of expanding career opportunities for military spouses across all branches of service.