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Family Place in new location, open to families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  The location is different, but its mission remains the same: Provide Airmen and their families a place to attend family-oriented programs and groups; a place close to home and in a comfortable environment.

It's called the Family Place, and it's open to all Airmen and their Family members in a new location in Challenger School at the end of School House Road.

"The Family Place is a center designed to enable Airmen and families to access family services and programs comfortably within their community as opposed to base agency buildings," said Maj. Terri Davis, Mental Health Clinic Flight commander. "Programs offered at the Family Place include parenting classes, relationship enrichment classes, support groups and spouses' club meetings. There is also a children's space designed to assist Family Home Day Care providers with a space to socialize the children in their care with other children."

"The Airman and Family Readiness Center and Family Advocacy Program are great organizations, but visiting their offices sometimes feels like walking into a military work place and that can be a little uncomfortable for family members," said Kathy Scott, wife of Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott III, 18th Air Force commander. "The Family Place is different. It's more like a youth center - there's a difference in the atmosphere."

The Family Place, which was originally located in a family housing unit provided by United Communites, is designed to provide a comfortable, homelike, environment. A benefit of its new location in the school is the availability of classroom space for the various parenting and relationship classes held there, said Major Davis. "It's actually kind of fitting - people can come here for college education and, now, family education as well," she said.

The Family Place is an Integrated Delivery System initiative supported by the wing. The IDS is a committee comprised of representatives from all base "helping" agencies - Airmen and Family Readiness, Chapel, Health and Wellness Center, Family Advocacy, Family Member Support Flight, Mental Health, 108th Air Refueling Wing Airmen & Family Readiness Center, and the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. It is the working arm of the Community Action Information Board - the wing committee chaired by Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, that discusses and approves community-oriented initiatives on base.

The Family Place was originally located in the Falcon Courts North housing area, but relocated to Challenger School when demolition on the old housing began. Though the fence line has moved, closing the gate directly from housing to School House Road, the schools are still accessible from the old main Falcon Courts North gate and from the walking path leading from Orly Place, near officers' housing, and exiting behind Chapel 2 across the street from Discovery School.

For more information about the Family place and other Family Advocacy programs, contact Melodye Giovanni, Family Advocacy Program coordinator, at (609) 754-9680.