Youth not over looked at Incirlik

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erica Picariello
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The Department of Defense implemented many programs for military personnel to deal with added stressors from increased deployment tempo since 9/11.
Military members leaving and returning from the area of responsibility are told about programs to reduce combat stress and are now required to go through a short re-integration to help the member transition from combat back to home-station. 

"To augment existing military support services, DoD established the Military Family Life Consultant program to provide non-medical, short term, situational, problem-solving counseling services to address issues that occur across the military lifestyle and help servicemembers and their families cope with the normal reactions to the stressful/adverse situations created by deployments and reintegration," according to an article on www.military.com. 

What about military family members who are too young to understand or deal with their role in the stressors of war? 

Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Consultants are now available to Incirlik youth up to age 18. 

"The CYB-MFLC may provide support to children and adolescents up to age 18 on topics including, but not limited to, identifying feelings, problem solving, bullying, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping with deployment and reunification, sibling or parental relationships, managing anger, time management, separation from parents, and divorce," said Tim Renegar, Incirlik Airman and Family Services chief.
Just like the MFLC program available to Airmen, the youth counselors have the same credentials and standards. 

"With the exception of mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations) support will be private and confidential to encourage the widest level of participation," said Mr. Renegar. "They all have masters' degrees or doctorate levels of education, are licensed and credentialed clinical providers who have undergone a criminal history background check.

Some youth might be hesitant to talk with an adult one-on-one about their problems but, there are other options.

"Not only are the counselors available for one-on-one training, they can also provide educational presentations and group workshops," said Mr. Renegar. "CYB-MFLC's extensive experience in working with youth make them very approachable and easy to talk to."

The CYB-MFLC has an office in the Child Development Center and can be reached at 676-5042 or via cell phone anytime at 0-506-927-5423.