CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
Military families often face unique circumstances that require special support.
That’s where the West Virginia National Guard’s Family Programs steps in. Family Programs works with Guardmembers, their families, and retirees to provide support during and after deployments, financial assistance, counseling, access to healthcare, and more.
Supporting the entire family unit is something that Beth Melton, Family Programs manager for the 130th Airlift Wing, is passionate about.
“You will be hard-pressed to find someone who works with helping military families that isn’t passionate about what they do,” she said. “A lot of us are connected to the military, and we know exactly what families are going through.”
The Family Readiness Center is located at Joint Force Headquarters in Charleston and houses offices dedicated to helping Army National Guard families. Alongside Soldier Family and Readiness Specialists who support families during and after a deployment, families can find help with financial assistance, TRICARE, professional counseling services, Chaplains, and programs geared toward military children.
The Military and Family Life Counseling Program, led by Julie Smith, provides professional counseling at no cost to service members or their immediate families.
“As long as the service member is enrolled in The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), we can help them and their families,” Smith said.
While the WVARNG and WVANG have different funding pools to provide services to their members, Melton said they find ways to work together to serve every WVNG family, no matter the service branch. All services offered at the Family Readiness Center for the Army Guard members are also available to Air Guard members. Likewise, Melton’s staff also works with the Family Readiness Center on projects that benefit both Army and Air Guard families.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced some programs to get creative. Susan Izzo, lead Child and Youth Programs coordinator for the WVARNG, developed mail packets her team sends to each WVNG family with children. Izzo explained that, because of COVID, in-person events are no longer an option. These mailers are her way of staying connected to military kids despite the pandemic.
The Air Guard does not have a specific Child and Youth Programs coordinator, so Melton’s team works with Izzo to send packets to Air Guard children as well.
“Anything we can help provide, we do,” Melton said. “Sometimes Susan will ask us for ideas, and we go over and help pack the mailers and try to split up responsibilities.”
All members of the West Virginia National Guard, as well as their families and retirees, have access to a TRICARE adviser. Sherry Cantrell and Mandy Hatfield are experts in helping WVNG members and their families navigate these healthcare benefits. West Virginia is unique in that we are the only state to employ TRICARE advisers to specifically serve the WVNG, but it is an important and needed service, Cantrell explains.
“We love our jobs and want everyone to know we are here to help navigate whatever issues someone might be having,” Cantrell said.
TRICARE advisers are there for both Army and Air Guard members and retirees.
“We refer many retirees to Sherry and Mandy,” Melton said. “They’re a great resource to have.”
While Family Readiness Groups serve the entire West Virginia National Guard, the Air Guard has a team of volunteers based in Charleston to specifically help Air Guard families.
“Sometimes people call and need help with getting their leaves raked or their snow shoveled, and we have volunteers that jump right in and get it done,” Melton explained.
If a family needs help outside of the Charleston area, Melton contacts Amy Long, lead Soldier and family readiness specialist for the WVARNG, or Sherry Lewis, who manages Family Programs for the families of the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg. Together, they help find resources for families across the state.
“It truly is a family and One Guard approach,” Melton said.
Izzo, Long and Melton all agree that during a deployment, the need for family support becomes even more evident, so they take extra care to ensure families are taken care of during deployment.
“It’s not unusual to get calls late at night from a spouse who is having a hard time or struggling,” Melton said.
During deployments, Soldier and Airmen Family Readiness Specialists and Family Program personnel from the 130th contact families of those deployed at least every month and continue to do so after the service member returns home.
“Due to the COVID pandemic, everyone had to get creative when it came to homecomings and preparing families for reintegration,” Izzo said.
For a recent Air Guard deployment return, Melton and her team arranged for families to drive to their loved ones with posters and flags flying from their cars instead of mingling with other families. It was important to make sure the families were still able to be part of the homecoming, Melton said.
Family Programs personnel can assist Guard families with myriad issues. But above all, Izzo and Melton said they want WVNG families to know they have a support system.
“One thing our office provides is that assurance that there are people who will do anything they can do to help them,” said Melton.
To connect with Family Programs, contact the nearest Family Programs manager or director. For Army National Guard members and families, call 866-986-4326. For Army National Guard Child and Youth Programs questions, contact Susan Izzo at 304-561-6720 or email susan.izzo.nfg@mail.mil. For Air National Guard members, contact Beth Melton in Charleston at 304-341-6625 or email elisabeth.melton.@us.af.mil. In Martinsburg, contact Sherry Lewis at 304-616-5590 or email sherry.lewis.1@us.af.mil.