PMFRC offering virtual “campfire” meetings, financial and deployment support

The Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre (PMFRC) is holding weekly “campfire” meetings on Facebook live to familiarize people with their programs, services and staff members from the comfort and safety of their couch.

“You may not see us because our doors are closed, but we are still working and really want to hear from you,” said Julie Hollinger, PMFRC Programs Manager.

As Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members continue to deploy, a broadcast on May 6 was designed to answer questions on deployment support and demonstrate how these services were altered to respond and meet the rules on social distancing.

Going virtual, the PMFRC staff have found they can be just as effective through a screen as they are in person.

Notably, when a member or unit is about to deploy, they must undergo a Departure Assistance Group (DAG). To minimize the risk of infection, this will be done virtually on Zoom or WebEx.

“We’ve been doing this for two weeks now, and it’s going really, really well,” said Annie Beaudoin, PMFRC Deployment Coordinator, adding all the main links are on their website in the calendar section. One only needs to follow the link and instructions to DAG.

Denise Ray of SISIP Financial was also on hand to explain the importance of ensuring finances are in order before leaving.

“As an insurance rep ... I want (soldiers) to ask how much life insurance you have, do you know who your beneficiary is.”

She has countless stories about deceased soldiers’ families who never updated their finances, leaving all to a former partner or estranged family member.

But she also wants members to ask themselves what happens if there is a financial emergency while they are away, and how they plan to deal with that. In addition, there is also the fact that deployments often mean more pay, and she wants soldiers to know how to deal with any extra funds correctly.

“Our financial planners are there to help out with that,” said Ray, adding this can be done by phone or virtual appointment

The office is also open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for emergencies only. The phone number is 613-687-0025.

As the member will be doing most preparations from home, families are invited to receive information directly from the source. To help with this, the PMFRC has created an OP Family Readiness deployment binder, which is also available as a flipbook online.

The soldier and their loved one are encouraged to fill out the binder to ensure that everyone is fully informed in case of an emergency.

“It is just a nice place to start being ready for deployment,” said Francesca Alexanian, Deployment Support Programmer.

The PMFRC will continue to respond to family needs by providing virtual programs for deployed families. This includes their Dare to Leap! program, which focuses on gardening throughout the summer. They are also running an Emergency Preparedness program to provide information on how to prepare in the face of a disaster. Zoom sessions to make connections will be put in place so that families who are undergoing a deployment can stay in touch with each other.

Children are also affected by deployments.

The Children’s Deployment Support Program (CDSP) was typically held at local schools, but as classes have been suspended, the program had to be reworked. Though they aren’t there in person, PMFRC representatives are hard at work looking for ways to keep kids learning, entertained and well supported by moving to the virtual world.

“We want to make sure the kids aren’t missing out,” said Beaudoin, adding there is a newsletter parents can sign up for that includes a plethora of activity ideas.

“Boosters” will continue even in the summer as many of the upcoming deployments will occur during the warmer months.

The PMFRC is well aware that mental health can suffer when a loved one is deployed, so they will continue to offer help to those who need it.

“The clinicians are working directly with their clients when needed,” said Claudia Beswick, PMFRC Executive Director. Intake is done over the phone or virtually.

She wanted to make sure that people know that one doesn’t need to have a partner currently deployed to access the deployment services.

“We want to hear from you, we want to put things in place to better support you,” said Beswick. “It really is important that families get the full picture of what it takes to get through deployments nowadays.”

For a link to the online version of the OP Family Readiness Binder, please send an email to deployment.pmfrc@bellnet.ca. For the CAF Connection PMFRC Calendar link, please visit www.cafconnection.ca/Petawawa.