SCREENING CLIENTS

One of your basic responsibilities will be to screen the persons who request appointments. To do this, you will need to obtain some basic background information concerning each client. The information you will obtain will vary according to the needs of the individual chaplain.

At a minimum, you will need to obtain the following information:

The full name of the visitor

The rank, rate, or dependency status of the visitor

The activity to which the visitor or the visitor's sponsor is assigned

A complete work address

The correct telephone numbers

A careful exploration of the purpose of the visit, such as personal, military, financial, spiritual, or general assistance

Even when you obtain the minimum information, always be aware of your responsibilities for confidentiality and for treating each client with dignity.

MAINTAINING A COMPLETE LOCAL REFERRAL DIRECTORY

The purpose of an information and referral directory is to link people in need to the available local sources that can provide the services they require. A directory can be an invaluable tool to Navy chaplains in their efforts to assist Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families in meeting and overcoming the problems that they may encounter during periods of stress, illness, crisis, and other emergencies.

One of your main responsibilities will be to assist the chaplain by compiling, maintaining, and providing up-to-date information for this directory. The contents of the directory should include applicable Navy, Marine Corps, and civilian programs, facilities, and organizations that can provide services for your clients. The effectiveness of the directory will largely depend upon your efforts to compile and maintain it. In most geographic areas, you should be able to find out about the local agencies and facilities that can provide services to Navy and Marine Corps members and their families.

When creating a directory, be certain to contact the Navy and Marine Corps family service centers. These centers can give you excellent advice and information directory. Figure 2-3 shows the type of information you should include for each of the resources in your  information that will help Navy and Marine Corps _{you can use to create an effective, comprehensive} ^{directory. In addition, you can organize other types of personnel and their families. Remember, many} different issues will lead Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families to seek assistance from the Office of the Chaplain. You can organize this important information in a well-defined command, deployment, ombudsman, or family support guide. Figure 2-4 is an outline of a support guide that you might prepare to _{promote this type of program.}

_{UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL PROBLEMS}

In your career as an RP, you will discover that some ^{of the most pressing issues that lead personnel and} families to seek assistance include separation and deployment; alcohol and drug dependency; services for single members, families, and children; retirement and aging; and resources management services. In developing and maintaining an effective, comprehensive directory and maintaining a sensitive and caring attitude, you will play a major role in helping many people get through these difficult situations. Let's take a closer look at some of the special problems facing ^{military people and their families.}

^{Separation and Deployment}

^{The deployment of Navy and Marine Corps} personnel aboard ships at sea and field exercises is a routine occurrence. Deployments often result in long, ^{frequent, and repeated family separations. In many} cases, direct communication with family members may ^{ready to assist both the deployed member and the} deployed member's family. Normally, such assistance ^{will take the form of pastoral counseling or referral assistance.}

As an RR you will play a profound role in helping your chaplain and the Navy and Marine Corps personnel of your command and their families prepare for deployment and postdeployment events. In helping _{military persons and their families cope with deployment and postdeployment stress, you should have a working knowledge of the following contact persons, agencies, and resources:}

who provides families of deployed members assistance in times of emergency. The contact officer circulates information at regular intervals to the ombudsman and other representatives of each deployed unit. . The deployed unit or home port contact officer . The ombudsman who serves as a liaison with officials of the Navy for the families of Navy personnel. _{The Navy Family Ombudsman Program, OPNAVINST 1750.1, contains detailed information concerning the family support program. funded by voluntary contributions. The work of the ARC is carried out primarily by volunteers. There are more than 3,000 chapters in communities throughout the United States, at military installations, in hospitals} . The American Red Cross (ARC), an organization

worldwide, and at Department of Veterans Affairs offices. The ARC provides counseling in relation to personal and family problems; maintains family ties; assists service members and military authorities in providing information regarding leave, reassignment,

_{and discharge by providing reports about emergencies; gives financial assistance to meet emergency needs;} provides information concerning community services;assists patients in military hospitals; and assists veterans, their dependents, and survivors in preparation of government benefits. In addition, the ARC works ^{closely with the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society.}

Figure 2-3.-Information inclusive to an information and resource directory.

Figure 2-4.-Outline of a support guide. 2-7

Figure 2-4.-Outline of a support guide-Continued.

. The Casualty Assistance Calls Program (CACP) that aids Navy and Marine Corps families in the event of death, serious injury, or capture of a Navy or a Marine Corps member in the line of duty. The Navy and Marine Corps will detail a casualty assistance calls officer (CACO) to notify personally the next of kin. The CACO will assist the spouse or primary family member of a deceased service member in any way possible, including transportation, child care, and funeral arrangements, and submitting claims for survivor's benefits. The program is administered by the Casualty Assistance Branch of the Bureau of Naval Personnel and is governed by the Navy Casualty Assistance Calls Program, NMPCINST 1770.1, and the Casualty Assistance Calls and Funeral Honors Support Program Coordination, OPNAVINST 1770.1. Chaplain involvement in the CACP is described in the Religious Ministries in the Navy, OPNAVINST 1730.1. The Marine Corps casualty assistance program is administered by the Casualty Section, Personal Affairs Branch, Human Resource Division, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, and is governed by the Marine Corps Casualty Procedures Manual, MCO 3040.4.

l The class easy message of getting important personal messages to deployed or overseas members. This is a telegram method of rapid communication families can use to send important messages-not just emergency messages-to a Navy or Marine Corps member. Either a regular telegram of 15 words or a night letter of 50 words maybe sent to deployed Navy and Marine Corps members through Western Union at favorable rates. A spouse or parent who needs to send an important message may contact a deployed member by sending a telegram to the deployed member's name and rank or rate, name and hull number of the deployed member's ship or unit, c/o Naval Communications Station, Washington, DC. me communications station will send the telegram to the ship. The cost of the telegram will be the regular Western Union rate from the place of origin to Washington, DC.

Remember, emergency communications intended for all deployed military service members are channeled through the nearest chapter of the ARC. For this reason, you must encourage service members to let their family members know about this service and to have the service member's name and rank or rate, social security number, name and hull number of the member's ship or unit, as well as any other pertinent information ready to expedhe the ARC's handling and delivery of the message.