Community FIRST/AFAP
Completed Issues
(FY 09)
These issues were submitted by the community through
Community FIRST/AFAP and have
been deemed “complete”. Issues have been
worked by the responsible organizations or directorates on
DIRECTORATE
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (DES)
DIRECTORATE
OF FAMILY MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION
DIRECTORATE
OF PUBLIC WORKS (DPW)
DOMESTIC DEPENDENT ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY
INSTALLATION HOUSING OFFICE /
PRIVATIZED HOUSING
MONCRIEF ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
(MACH)
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Issue 1: Stronger Punishment for Cell Phone Use
Cell phone use while driving
creates a hazardous driving environment for everyone who lives, works, and
recreates on the installation. There is
currently no fine for cell phone use; offenders receive a DD Form 1408 (Commander’s
action ticket). Receiving this “slap on
the hand” instead of a monetary fine could encourage repeat offenders.
Recommendation:
Implement a
monetary fine for violators of the cell phone ban and advertise the policy
throughout the installation.
Response (Feb 09): DES will publish in the upcoming Leader that a monetary fine will be imposed upon anyone ticketed for utilizing a hand held device while driving their vehicle on a highway/roadway while on Fort Jackson. The recommended fine is not less than $15 nor more than $25.
Status: Complete (Soldier
Focus Group) (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Hearts Apart Not Working
The current Hearts Apart
program (for families of deployed Soldiers) is not working. Information is not
being received by a large number of families, and the program is not meeting
the majority’s needs. Furthermore unless a customer comes into the office to
request services (which is an inconvenience and sometimes not possible for
families), he or she will not receive information. One family member e-mailed
the point of contact requesting to be put on the e-mail list but, to date, has
not been contacted. Because the program is not working well, the families of
some deployed Soldiers are not being provided adequate support and information.
Recommendation: Provide accurate, timely updating and use of both e-mail and
postal mail lists. Coordinate with out-processing Soldiers to know if their
families are staying in the area.
Response (Feb 09): Hearts Apart Program has been
revamped and through word of mouth and other publicity venues has become better
attended. We will continue to put
maximum ACS resources to this valuable program and another ACS staff member has
been pulled in to further enhance the group and publicity has been expanded to
include advertising through the off-post schools and downtown newspaper and
local news stations.
Status: Complete (Family
Member Focus Group) (1st Qtr FY09)
Issue 2: Difficulty
Accessing Counseling Service Information
There
is no readily available source of information listing counseling services on
Recommendation: Create an accurate list of
counseling services available to Family members and Soldiers. Publish this list
in the Leader (recurring ad), welcome packets, Chapel handouts, hospital,
Response (Feb 09): There are a large number of counseling services provided at Fort Jackson
(FJ) and the services are not under a single
umbrella. ACS will take the lead
to partner with the key services on post that offer counseling and create a
listing of counseling services on FJ and update and
distribute it regularly.
Status: Complete (Family Member
Focus Group) (1st Qtr FY09)
Issue 3: Family Readiness Group (FRG)
Building
The FRG’s
on post currently have no dedicated space to conduct meetings or store
materials and equipment. Meetings must be held in a spouse’s home or in unit
area. Supplies (including decorations for parties and get-togethers) must also
be stored at home or placed in supply closets in the unit area. This issue
affects all family members involved in the installation’s FRG’s.
Recommendation:
Response (Feb 09):
Child, Youth & School Services does not have dedicated
space available for FRG’s to meet, but can assist in
locating space and setting up onsite child care or opening one of the CDCs to accommodate child care if the meeting is in a
location that is not adjacent to the CDC or does not have an area near the
meeting that can be utilized for onsite child care. For example, if a large group needs care, it
is possible to request the Post Chapel activity room for the FRG meeting and the child care can be provided at the
Status:
Complete (1st Qtr FY09)
Issue 4: Better Marketing of Activities for Single Soldiers
There are many
installation-sponsored recreational activities that would be of interest to
single Soldiers, but many of these Soldiers are not aware of them. Events are
published in the installation’s newspaper but not through many other methods.
Increased awareness of activities would strengthen
programs such as Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) and provide
better support for all single Soldiers. It could also increase participation in
FMWR activities, resulting in increased revenue.
Recommendation: Market FMWR activities through
forums that specifically target single Soldiers, such as the bi-monthly BOSS
meetings.
Response (Feb 09):
Because BOSS is one of our most overlooked programs, our goal
is to really get the single soldiers involved.
BOSS has a lot to offer and we will do our best to get the word out to
increase participation and awareness.
Currently, we market the programs by BOSS meetings, the Leader,
Status: Complete (Soldier Focus Group) (2nd
Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Heating of Post Conference Room
It is too cold in the post conference
room several months of the year. Turning
on the heat an hour prior to a meeting is still not long enough for the
building to heat up. When the heating
system finally does come on, it feels like it is blowing cold air. As a result of poor heating, many of the
staff and community members who use the conference room are cold, uncomfortable
and could become ill.
Recommendation: Turn the heat on in the conference room the night before a
scheduled meeting, and inspect the heating system to ensure it is working
properly.
Response (Feb 09): A new heating system has been installed in the post conference room.
Status:
Complete (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Testing and Staffing
for Children with Special Needs
Children with identified
educational issues who attend schools on
Recommendation: Increase
special needs staffing in the
Response (Feb 09): The maximum required time frame for completion of special needs testing is 45 school days not 35 calendar days. Testing requests are made with the input of the classroom teacher during a meeting including administration, teacher, and parents. A parent simply mentioning to a teacher that a child may need to be tested does not start the testing process. After a parent and teacher discuss concern about a child, pre-referral interventions are implemented. If these interventions are successful, a formal referral for special education is not needed. However if there is no noticeable improvement in the child’s learning a formal referral is made to the Casa Study committee (CSC). The CSC reviews the referral and develops an assessment plan. Parent consent for assessment is obtained and that starts the proverbial 45 day clock. After all assessments are complete, an eligibility meeting is held to discuss the results. This should take place within 10 school days of completion of the testing. If a child is eligible for special needs services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is made to meet his/her needs. IEPs should be annually reviewed, but parents can request review at other times as well. It is highly suggested that parents do not let an IEP expire prior to any move since the process will have to begin again once the IEP has expired. Parents who have questions or concerns about the timeliness of their child’s testing should contact the principal. DDESS has specific guidelines for staffing templates based upon enrollment and local needs which it must and does follow. Occasionally, positions are contracted or shared between locations. However, all required staffing is met. A downloadable handbook to help parents understand the IEP process as well as a brochure on parents’ rights and a due process complaint form are available at
www.dodea.edu/curriculum/specialEduc.cfm?cType=se&cId=info.
Status: Complete (EFMP
Focus Group) (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Inconsistency of
Housing Charges and Practices
With
the transition to privatized housing, there is an inconsistency with housing
charges and lease agreements. A family attending a 6-month course on
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.
Response (Feb 09): Without knowing the residents in
question the situations listed above cannot be addressed. Balfour Beatty Communities has cleaning
guidelines that are given to each resident during their pre-move out
inspection. At that time they can choose
to clean themselves or pay for a Cleaning Team.
These prices are set according to apartment size. All charges for damages are based on Balfour
Beatty Communities’ damage charge sheet.
The charge sheet is a guide and the prices are adjusted based on the
severity of the issue and fluctuations in vendor pricing.
Status: Complete (Family
Member Focus Group) (1st Qtr FY09)
Issue 2: Non-EFMP Families Residing in EFMP Housing
There are families authorized
to live in EFMP housing who are not enrolled in
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) with
qualifying conditions. More specifically, they reside in the one level houses
designed to accommodate special needs even though they do not have Family
Members with special needs. This creates
a problem for Families with qualifying medical conditions who would like to
reside on the installation in housing with no stairs. This situation could be detrimental to a
Family Member’s physical condition and a financial hardship to reside off the
installation.
Recommendation: Develop guidelines for Families coming to the
installation, during the new housing transition and also at the completion of
the new housing project, to adequately accommodate Families with special needs.
Response (Feb 09): There was one Family that needed
to relocate by the project deadline who was assigned to an
Status: Complete (EFMP
Focus Group) (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 3:
Transitioning EFMP Families
EFMP Families transitioning to a new installation are not
properly informed of the necessary paperwork that needs to be forwarded to the
gaining installation’s housing office for special housing accommodations. Due to new privatized Family housing,
Families do not know what paperwork needs to be forwarded to the gaining
installation housing office when requesting special housing accommodations or
if housing can be requested prior to their arrival. It appears that every installation housing
office has different guidelines, which are not standardized. When Family Housing was under the direction
of the Army, guidelines were standard from one installation to another. Families need to know if housing on one level
will be available, special needs accommodations to meet their Family Member’s
conditions are available in housing, and what documentation need to be
forwarded to the gaining installation to verify their requirements.
Recommendation: Gaining installation’s Family Housing
Office provide an information packet for Families containing listed paperwork
needed for their special needs requirements and information on housing
guidelines. Packets will be given to
Families requesting special housing accommodations.
Response (Feb 09): It is
the responsibility of the losing housing office to assist Families who are PCSing. Once the
Soldier connects with the Housing Service Office (HSO) (located in the Strom Thurmond Bldg), the HSO representative will begin the needs assessment process,
assist in obtaining current housing information for the gaining installation,
and attempt to make a warm transfer to the gaining installation’s HSO.
Status: Complete (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Lack of Medical Service Specialists for
Under TRICARE, there are no
provisions for the services of a developmental pediatrician or a behavioral
management specialist for EFMP Family Members. EFMP Families that
are assigned to
Recommendation: Provide a developmental pediatrician and
behavioral management specialist for Family members needing this required
specialty. Provide information to
Families on the present situation and plans for assisting Families with these
requirements.
Response (Feb 09):
Per MACH: “Unfortunately
there is a shortage of Developmental Pediatricians throughout the
Status: Complete (EFMP
Focus Group) (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 2: Additional EFMP Physicians Needed
Some parents are not pleased
with the impersonal mannerism of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) physician.
Parents feel that the physician is qualified for the duties, but can be
short with parents, non-consistent and unresponsive to parents’ concerns. This may be due to the high numbers of
special needs children that are seen at
Recommendation: Hire additional EFMP physicians.
Response (Feb 09):
Per MACH: “The concerns will be reviewed. After we
have had an opportunity to evaluate the situation we will report our
findings. We urge parents to let us know
their concerns through the ICE system, or by visiting the Patient Services Office
located on the 10th floor.”
Additionally, we are sending two of our
Status: Complete (EFMP
Focus Group) (2nd Qtr FY09)
Issue 3: MACH Appointments for Family Members
There are not enough appointment
slots for Family Members at
Recommendation: Increase the number of appointment slots for family members
at the Family Health Clinic, especially in the afternoon so that children can
be seen after school hours.
Response (Feb 09): “During times that we are unable to give appointments for acute problems
within the Family Health Center we have an arrangement with primary care
providers in the civilian community that allows us to send patients same-day for
care. We have utilized this option for
several years. We closely monitor access
to care to assure standards are being met”. This issue was voted complete by
the IAC.
Status: Complete (Family
Member Focus Group) (1st Qtr FY09)
Issue 4: Hospital Dining Facility
The hospital dining
facility is not adequate. Food quality and
taste are not as good as other establishments and have gotten worse since the
change in contracts. This negatively affects all customers of the facility and
reflects poorly upon the hospital as a whole. Having better food quality could
discourage the use of vending machines and nearby eating establishments,
thereby bringing increased revenue for your agency.
Recommendation:
Conduct an
evaluation during lunch hours for multiple days; then take appropriate action
in a timely manner to correct the shortcomings.
Response (Feb 09): This issue will be evaluated over the next quarter and the findings will be reported at the 3d Qtr IAC meeting. This issue was voted complete by the IAC.
Status: Complete (Soldier Focus Group) (2nd
Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Erroneous Information in Leader Newspaper
The
Leader continually prints erroneous information. For example, in November’s newspaper,
the date for
Recommendation: Double check facts and proofread
articles to ensure accuracy before information is released.
Response (Feb 09): Per PAO: “The Leader staff tries its best to ensure that information
submitted and reported is accurate.
Unfortunately, the staff is not perfect and mistakes sometime occur”.
This issue was voted complete by the IAC.
Status: Active (Family
Member Focus Group) (1st Qtr FY09)
Issue 1: Reimbursement for Damages
During PCS Move
Moving
companies, now responsible for Full Replacement Value (FRV),
sometimes will not pay FRV for property that is
damaged during a PCS move. Instead, the
companies make “an offer”, which is less than FRV. Also, if the inventory indicates scratches on
an item, they will not pay even though there is additional damage. For example: If there are slight scratches on
a wooden chair, but after the move, there is a gouge, the moving company can
refuse to consider the claim on that item- even at a depreciated amount-
because the inventory already showed damage.
Additionally, the moving company that picked up my household goods
states they are only liable for part of the furniture; the company that
delivered it will have to pay for the rest.
Yet, they will not submit the request to the delivery company until they
settle the claim. Inadequate reimbursement for damages negatively affects all
Soldiers and their family members who are required to make a PCS move, causing
undo stress and financial burden during an already stressful time.
Recommendation: Hold moving companies accountable for adequately
reimbursing for damages during a PCS move.
Response (Feb 09): Prior to
filing a claim with a moving company (transportation service provider or TSP),
all claimants should be directed to consult with a staff member from the Client
Services Division of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. The Soldier or Family Member (claimant) will
receive a briefing regarding the Full Replacement Value (FRV)
process. The claimant’s Joint Statement
of Loss or Damage at Delivery (the DD Form 1840 or “pink sheets”) will be sent
from the Claims office to the TSP to start the FRV
claim. The DD Form 1840 must be provided
to the TSP within 75 days of the date of delivery. Claimants must file with the TSP within
nine (9) months of the delivery.
Submission of a DD Form 1840 does not constitute the filing of a
claim. A claimant still must submit a written demand for a specific amount,
listing the items lost or damaged, to the TSP within nine (9) months after the date of delivery. The TSP
will then provide instructions on how to file a claim. After the TSP receives the claim, a TSP
representative will contact the claimant directly with an offer to settle the
claim. The TSP shall pay, deny, or make
an offer within 60 days of receipt of a complete, substantiated claim. The TSP will complete payment to the owner
within 30 days of receipt of notice that the claimant has accepted a full or
partial settlement. A claimant may file
their claim directly with a military claims office, but if done, the claimant
gives up their right to FRV. The military claims
office does not have the authority to settle claims on the basis of FRV. A claimant may
transfer all or part of their claim to a military claims office if dissatisfied
with the TSP’s handling of the claim. However, you
may not transfer your claim until the TSP has made a final offer, or more than
30 days have elapsed since the claim was filed.
After settlement under normal claims rules, the claim is forwarded to
Status:
Complete (2nd Qtr FY09)
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