Economic Readiness and Military Family Well-Being
About this Series
Over the course of six weeks, OneOp will deliver a series of professional development opportunities focused on economic security and family well-being, including an on-demand course and three webinars. The series will equip service providers with the skills necessary to support family well-being while navigating the terrain of economic security for military service members and families. The on-demand course will provide a foundation primer to economic security and family well-being for professionals. The webinars in the series will frame economic security through the lenses of emotional, physical, social, and financial well-being by exploring programs, discussing gaps in services, and investigating ways to better link families in need with services. The Academy will also detail the programs available to military families through the Cooperative Extension Service that are aimed at increasing economic security.
Practicing Connection Community
The Practicing Connection Community on LinkedIn is a private group connecting more than 200 professionals working with military families. In support of the Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRA), the Community will host conversations to help turn knowledge gained from the MFRA series into plans you can use to support military families. Don’t miss this chance to engage deeply with MFRA content and put your learning into practice!
The course and webinars in this series are free and open-access. Click on the event titles below to learn more.
Foundations for Military Family Financial Readiness
Asynchronous Course Available Now!
This foundational course will provide an overview of the impacts of financial readiness on military family well-being. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the financial foundations of economic security, including social and economic drivers required to reach and sustain improved quality of life among military families.
Strengthening Health, Wellness, and Financial Security Through Total Force Fitness
On-Demand
Total Force Fitness focuses on the service member’s entire health throughout their career. This webinar discusses the financial fitness dimension and how economic insecurity can affect the other wellness dimensions including nutritional fitness. This webinar also highlights initiatives to support financial fitness and food security.
Balancing Military Spouse Employment with Family Economic Well-Being
On-Demand
Military family members are an integral part of a service member’s support system, but the challenges faced by military spouses in maintaining employment are often overlooked. This webinar addresses the ways in which the Department of Defense endeavors to positively influence the career trajectories of military spouses.
Enhancing Military Family Well-Being: Understanding and Nurturing Economic Security
On-Demand
This webinar discusses factors that can impact economic security such as social dynamics, environmental factors, and community characteristics. Discussion during this event focuses on how these factors relate to health and wellness as a foundation of economic security. Emphasis is placed on leveraging knowledge, skills, and resources to promote health and well-being.
Message from Leadership
Ms. Stephanie Miller – Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Policy.
Ms. Miller oversees the full spectrum of human resource policies for over two million military personnel serving in the Department of Defense. Her responsibilities include accessions, compensation, financial readiness, development, assignments, separations, awards and decorations. She is directly responsible for policies and programs to sustain the all-volunteer force.
Mrs. Patricia M. Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy
Mrs. Barron is currently responsible for a broad portfolio that includes policy, advocacy, and oversight of all community support to service members and their families. As an Army spouse for 30 years, she has been involved in myriad efforts to support military families.
Dr. Brenda Martin, National Program Leader for the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences at USDA-NIFA
Dr. Brenda Martin is a National Program Leader with USDA-NIFA. Prior to joining USDA-NIFA, she worked in higher education as a university professor for twenty-four years, including seven years as department chairperson. Dr. Martin holds memberships in several professional, educational, and civic organizations.
Case Story: The Howard Family
A case story is used throughout the course and webinars in the 2024 Military Family Readiness Academy. This case story provides an opportunity to examine resources and services within the Military Family Readiness System. This family’s example asks service providers to consider the skills they need to support family well-being through the lens of economic security.
