U.S. DOD Form dod-opnavinst-1754-1a
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Washington, DC 20350
OPNAV INSTRUCTION
From:
To:
1754.1A
Chief of Naval Operations
All Ships and Stations (less Marine Corps field
addresseesnot having Navy personnel attached)
Subj:
FAMILY
SERVICE
Ref:
(a) SECNAVINST
(b) OPNAVINST
1754.1
5352.1
SECNAVINST
(d) SECNAVINST
(C)
Encl:
CENTER PROGRAM
1752.3
5211.5C
(1) Family Service Center Sites
(2) Family Service Center Billets and Duties
(3) Confidentiality in Family Service Centers
(4) Guidance for Use of Volunteers in Family
Service Centers
(5) Family Service Center Report (OPNAV
1754/1)
OPNAVINST 1754.1A
NMP(X6
8 August 1985
a. Provide comprehensive information programs and
referral services for Navy families and single service members.
b. Provide Navy personnel and Navy families with
opportunities to achieve a more satisfying quality of life
in the Navy.
c. Ensure continuing awareness of the importance of
the relationship between Navy families and the Navy’s
ability to execute its mission.
d. Bring about close coordination
and civilian family support services.
among existing Navy
e. Serve all eligible personnel and their families as set
forth in reference (a). In the case of spouse employment,
only spouses, dependent children and active duty about
to retire are eligible for this particular program.
5. Program Guidance
1. Purpose. To establish Navy policy and assign responsi-
bilities for the administration and support of the Navy
Family Service Center Program as directed in reference (a).
A) 2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 1754.1 and OPNAVINST
1740.lA,
R) 3. Background. Commanders are responsible for providing
the opportunity for a reasonable quality of life for Navy
personnel and their families. It is both ethical and pragmatic for Navy leaders to care for their families – ethical
because it is the right thing to do and pragmatic because
care of Navy members and their families directly impacts
upon job performance, retention and readiness. Navy
members must be able to concentrate their energy on the
successful accomplishment of the Navy mission. A key
element in the provision of this care is the establishment
of Family Service Centers, which provide services and
programs designed to meet the special challenges of Navy
life.
L
R) 4. Policy. Navy Family Service Centers (FSC) are an
organizational component within the Navy shore activities
and commands listed in enclosure (1). FSCS shall work
through and in support of, the assigned shore activity’s
chain of command. FSC Directors shaI1 be experienced
line officers who will normally be assigned as a department
head or equivalent. FSCS will assume Personal Service
Center functions. FSCS will:
a. FSC functions as specified in reference (a) include:
Information and Referral, Family Assistance, Family
Education, Financial Education Counseling, Deployment
Support, Family Advocacy, Special Needs Families
Support, Employment Assistance, and Relocation Assistance. In addition, FSCS function as the major delivery
system for Overseas Duty Support as described in reference (b). Also, FSCS will support command programs
such as the Sponsor and Ombudsman programs. FSCS will
specifically support the command Ombudsman program
by providing space within the FSC for use by the Ombudsmen. FSCS will also offer support to Ombudsmen in
such areas as coordination of Ombudsman training,
establishment of Ombudsman support groups and assistance to commands in effective use and recognition of
Ombudsmen.
b. Itis the intent of the FSC program that Centers will
not duplicate existing resources of good quality that are
otherwise available to Navy personnel and their families.
The FSC staff will establish and maintain a close cooperative relationship with existing community (military and
civilian) resources. Each FSC will provide comprehensive
information and referral services concerning programs,
services, volunteer opportunist ies, and resources available
in both the military and civilian communities for single
and married Navy members and their families. FSCS will
maintain brochures, telephone numbers, names of contact
(R
OPNAVINST 17S4.lA
8 August 198S
whether or not a counseling resource is needed and, if it
is, to provide appropriate referral information.
persons, and other information such as: Welcome Aboard
Packages of other Navy and service installations; health
care resources; counseling resources; employment assistance; educational resources; consumer services; service
agencies such as American Red Cross, Navy Relief Society,
United Way agencies and child care. Referrals of persomel
from FSCS to civilian providers of health care services may
be made only with the approval of the local Navy health
care treatment facility command.
(b) Suppo~ive Counseling emphasizes maximum
use of existing community (military and civilian) counseling
resources to ensure that families and commands receive
the best response to a problem situation. The basic purpose
of supportive counseling is to provide limited non-medical
counseling to people who can most benefit, while arranging
prompt support for other individuals and families needing
highly specialized or extended counseling by other organizations. Key elements include:
c, A major function of FSCS is the prevention of
problems and the enhancement of family life. FSCS will
offer informational, educational and preventive programs
on a continuing basis, making m&.rnum use of community
services. These programs will be offered both during and
after normal working hours to facilitate maximum
attendance. These programs and other FSC activities
will be widely publicized through an FSC newsletter,
calendars, “Skills for Living” brochures, etc. “Skills for
Living” brochures should include an outline of FSC course
and program offerings for the coming quarter or six month
period.
d. Short-term
~. Accurate assessment
~. Prompt and flexible staff response
~. Discouragement
of client dependency
~. Close collaboration with civilian and
Navy professional resources (Medical, JAG, Chaplains, etc.)
(c) Where local resources are not available,
FSC Directors may authorize extended (additional sessions)
counseling. This may occur at remote/overseas areas or
when both spouses are military (provided FSC personnel
are suitably qualified.)
Non-Medical Counseling.
(1)FSCS will be limited to short-term non-medical
counseling. This counseling will address those conditions
not “attributable to a mental disorder” as listed in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM III). Such non-medical counseling
includes: adult anti-social behavior; child and adolescent
antisocial behavior; academic, occupational, or parentchild problems; marital problems, and non-medical interventions commonly recommended for family violence,
e.g., support groups, violence containment groups and
parent education groups. Under no circumstances will
FSCS treat medically diagnosable conditions, attributable
to mental disorder, as listed and defined in the DSM III.
(d) Counseling in FSCS will be provided by
counselors who are trained and credentialed according to
their disciphne by a state, territory, or possession of the
United States. This will be demonstrated by current
license, registration, or certification as appropriate. Counselors already on board will have two years from the date
of this instruction to fulfti this requirement.
(2) Counseling directly supports the information
and referral function of the FSC. Counseling will be based
on the following criteria: maximum use of existing
counseling resources (both military and civilian) and nonduplication; flexible and prompt responses to individual
and command requests for assistance; economical use of
FSC assets; and quality assurance. Counseling in FSCS will
include the following:
e. FSCS have a major role in the coordination and
support of the non-medical aspects of the Navy Family
Advocacy Program (FAP). FSC responsibilities generally
include the areas of prevention, education, identification,
intervention and referral of involved families. Specific
activities include the provision of information briefings,
educational programs, support groups, individual assessment counseling, and referral to community agencies. FSCS
should participate in the local Family Advocacy Committee (FAC) and any other local Family Advocacy Program
(FAP) activities. (Reference (c) pertains.)
(a) Intake Interview, as an extension of the
information and referral service, providing a basic assessment of individual and family problems to determine
f, The Navy FSC Program, at both headquarters and
field level, will coordinate programming efforts with
family assistance programs of the other uniformed services.
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9
OPNAVINST 17S4.lA
8 Au~st 1885
(1) Periodic staff meetings.
A memorandum of agreement maybe appropriate when
tenant organizations reside on another uniformed service’s
installation. Members and families of other uniformed
services are provided assistance in accordance with reference (a).
(2) Periodic review of client records by the Director,
Deputy Director and Chief of Counseling SeMces.
(3) An annual needs assessment.
g. In the event of mobilization, FSCS will provide
appropriate support. Such support may include 24-hour
information and referral services and family relocation
assistance. Each FSC will develop and maintain a plan
for mission execution in time of mobilization.
(4) Follow-up of clients to assess effectiveness of
services provided by the FSC.
10. Volunteers. FSCS will serve as the volunteer clearing- (A
house for Navy persomel and their families who may wish
to perform volunteer work in either the military or civilian
communities. Use of volunteers to complement and
supplement FSC programs is highly encouraged. The
following guidance applies to volunteers in FSCS:
A) 6. Staffing and Major Duties. Minimum staffing for large
centers will normally be 2 officers, 4 enlisted and 11
civilians; for small centers 1 officer, 1 enlisted and 7
civilians. Examples of FSC billets and duties are shown in
enclosure (2).
a. Volunteers shall be personally interviewed by at
least one of the following: FSC Director; Deputy Director;
or Coordinator of Volunteer Services.
A) 7. Liability. Government employees may be vulnerable
to personal liability for negligent or wrongful actions or
omissions made while acting within the scope of federal
employment. Professional staff members should be made
aware of this so that they may consider the advisability
of having their own liability insurance. Most professional
associations (social workers, psychologists and so forth)
offer such insurance at moderate premiums.
b. The FSC Director, after examining each potential
volunteer’s background, training and experience, shall
determine the acceptability of each volunteer applicant.
e Volunteers, at the direction of the FSC Director,
may be assigned to functions for which they are qualified
within the Center.
A) 8. Records and the’ Privacy Act. Confidentiality of records
in the FSC are governed by the Privacy Act of 1974
(5 U.S.C. Sect. 552a), as implemented within the Navy by
reference (d). The Privacy act limits access to persoml
information in Privacy Act systems of records. Further
information on this subject is provided in enclosure (3).
d. Volunteers will be required to maintain the same
standard of professional conduct as regular FSC staff
members. Volunteers will not be granted access to records
of FSC users.
e. Volunteers may be terminated at any time such
action is determined appropriate by the FSC Director.
A) 9. Program Review. Navy FSCS are expected to maintain
a high degree of professionalism in order to provide the
highest quality of services to individuals and families. To
that end, the Commander, Naval Military Personnel Command will develop guidelines for FSC program review. To
ensure a sound FSC program, the following additional
guidance is provided:
f. Volunteers’ services and activities will be documented, recognized and rewarded.
g. Additional guidance is provided at enclosure (4).
a. FSCS are subject to normal Navy oversight, e.g.,
assessment by Immediate Superior in Command, Inspector
General and program manager.
(R
11. Action
Operations (Manpower,
Within the Office of the
Chief of Naval Operations, OP-O1 shall provide overall
policy guidance and serve as the Chief of Naval Operations’
program sponsor for family related matters within the
Navy. As such, OP-O1 is the program sponsor for the Navy
Family Service Center Program in the Program Objectives
Memorandum (POM) process.
a. Deputy
Chief of Naval
Personnel and Training)
b. FSC Directors will ensure that all staff members are
fully qualified to perform assigned duties.
c. FSC Directors will conduct an ongoing internal
review process consisting of at least the following:
3
(OP-01 ).
OPNAVINST
8 Auguet l=
1754.1A
—
h Commander, Naval Military Pweonnd Command
(9) Develop, maintain, and disseminate family
support related information and material within the
Navy.
(COMNAVMI LPERSCOM). COMNAVMILPERSCOM is
responsible for developing and implementing plans and
policies for the administration and support of the Family
Service Center program, as outlined by CNO. Direct
communication with appropriate Navy personnel on
matters related to the Family Service Center Program,
as it pertains to the following ti,
is authorized. Matters
of policy and resource allocation will be addressed through
the chain of command. COMNAVMIIYERSCOM shall:
(10) Coordinate the Family Service Center Program
with other Navy and Navy-related family programs.
(11 ) provide material support such as equipment,
media resources, funding for demonstration projects and
grants for specific efforts.
(1) Direct the establishment, maintenance, and
support of a Navy-wide system of Family Service
Centers.
& Chief of Chaplains. Ensure Chaplain Corps aware-
ness of and participation
Program.
(2) In coordination with appropriate OPNAV offices
and major echelon 2 commanders, develop inputs to the
0P411 Sponsor Program Proposal (SPP) regarding Navy
Family Service Centers, and develop and maintain a 5-year
plan on program and resource requirements.
with the Family Service Center
d. Commander, Naval Medical Command. Ensure that
appropriate medical activities coordinate with and support
the Family Service Center Program.
e. Judge Advooate General (JAG )/Commander, Naval
Legal Service Command (N LSO). Ensure JAG Corps/
(3) Provide training and technical assistance to
Navy Family Service Centers.
NLSO awareness of and participation
Service Center Program.
(4) Provide guidance for on-site program reviews
and assist cognizant Immediate Superiors in Command,
as required, in the conduct of on-site reviews.
f. Major Echelon 2 Commanders. Major echelon 2
commanders shall ensure the establishment, maintenance,
and operation of Navy Family Service Centers within
existing naval shore activities under their command, as
listed in enclosure(1). Major echelon 2 commanders may,
as appropriate, establish staff offices to coordinate and
support FSC implementation and development, provide
recommendations for improvement of the FSC concept,
act as an area point-of-contact for family support matters,
and provide coordination for increased planning with
other service providers.
@) Coordinate with, and where feasible, secure
resources and support from Federal, state and local agencies
and, as appropriate, host nations, concerned with family
growth and development.
(6) Coordinate with, and where feasible, secure
resources and support from nongovernrnent organizations
dedicated to supporting family life programs, e.g., United
Way, United Service Organizations, et al.
g. Commanding Officers. Commanders and commanding officers designated in enclosure (1) shall ensure the
effective management, funding, and operation of Navy
Family Service Centers.
(7) In coordination with the Naval Medical corn.
mand, provide policy and guidance pertaining to the
establishment and implementation of a Navy-wide Family
Advocacy Program.
(8) Ensure the maintenance of a comprehensive
effective research and evaluation program.
12. Report and Forms. Commanders and commanding
officers designated in enclosure (1) will submit a quarterly
Family Service Center Report (enclosure (5)) via the chain
of command to arrive at major claimant not later than
and
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