Family Member Focus Group

A Community FIRST focus group was held for family members on 16 December 2008 in the Plans, Analysis, and Integration Office (PAIO) Conference Room. The focus group delegates discussed issues affecting the quality of life of all family members throughout the Fort Jackson community. Issues that were surfaced by the delegates include:

Title: Difficulty Accessing Counseling Service Information

Scope: There is no readily available source of information listing counseling services on Fort Jackson, including Chaplains and Army Community Services. People call one number and are redirected to another incorrect number. Family members and Soldiers may give up and not seek counseling if it is too difficult to access services.

Recommendation: Create an accurate list of counseling services available to Family members and Soldiers. Maintain and update this list on at least a quarterly basis.

Title: Inconsistency of Housing Charges and Practices

Scope: With the transition to privatized housing, there is an inconsistency with housing charges and lease agreements. Units are expected to be move-in ready for the next occupant, and charges are based on rank not on unit size or work needed.

Recommendation: Standardize charges and practices with local community leasing practices: do not require units to be move-in ready for the next occupant, and base charges on unit size and work needed.

Title: Palmetto Pediatrics Dropping TRICARE

Scope: Palmetto Pediatrics is dropping TRICARE Prime insurance effective 01 Feb 2009. Over 500 families will be affected- they will be forced to either find another care provider or to pay for charges out of pocket. This will cause undue hardship on families, many of whom have been with the provider for quite some time and are satisfied with their services.

Recommendation: TRICARE and Palmetto Pediatrics immediately resume negotiations with a mediator and reach a resolution so that TRICARE Prime patients can continue to use their current doctor without interruption of care and services.

Title: Inconsistent Heating and Cooling of Post Facilities

Scope: The heating in on-post facilities turn on and off at certain times of the year. Chapel facilities were 65 degrees and later on that month were 85 degrees where children were cared for. The heat in Hood Street School Annex is not on; therefore, patrons utilizing the facility get cold. Inconsistent heating and cooling can result in more illnesses and a reluctance to continue to use the facilities.

Recommendation: Provide the means to heat and cool each facility on site.

Title: ACS Contracts

Scope: Army Community Services (ACS) has recently lost at least two key government contracts. More specifically, the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) will lose two support personnel; and Deployment Readiness will lose its sole personnel. Special events that were once planned and carried out by support personnel will no longer take place. This will also have a negative impact upon those utilizing ACS because these programs will no longer be fully staffed and functional.

Recommendation: Re-staff EFMP, Deployment Readiness and other key positions in line with the Army Family Covenant.

The Family Member Focus Group was conducted as part of the Community FIRST quarterly issue resolution process. A complete list of issues that have been submitted through Community FIRST may be found on the Customer Management Services Website: http://www.jackson.army.mil/WellBeing/wellbeing.htm. New issues may be submitted on the site as well, by clicking on “Submit an Issue or Recommendation” or on the Community FIRST Logo. Whether it affects individuals and constituent groups here at the installation level or throughout the Army, feedback is important.

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