Fiscal Highlights - July 2016
Providing for the Mental Health Needs of the Utah National Guard -
Steven M. Allred ( PDF)When a National Guard service member deploys for military service, training, or especially combat, there is a potentially significant effect on the service member, his/her family, and his/her employer. Significant problems that sometimes manifest with military service include suicide (with a rate double that of the general population), relationship challenges, post deployment family reintegration, violent behavior, unemployment, and addiction. The ability of the service members' family to support and sustain military service directly affects the service members' ability to remain in service. Between 2007 and 2014 the federal National Guard Bureau signed a national contract for Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) who provided confidential non-medical counseling to service members and their families. Three MFLCs were assigned to the Utah National Guard (UNG). Such counseling was intended to prevent the development or aggravation of lifestyle conditions that may compromise military and family readiness. In 2014 the federal contract expired and no funds were provided to continue the program. The UNG approached the Legislature with a request to fund two MFLCs with State funds. The Legislature responded with an ongoing appropriation of $210,000. The UNG hired two Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) as MFLCs. One is stationed at the UNG headquarters in Draper and the other is stationed at Camp Williams. They provide counseling to service members and their families throughout the State via direct visits or a confidential teleconferencing system. During the 2016 General Session the Legislature appropriated an additional $110,000 one-time, and $242,500 ongoing, for suicide awareness and prevention. This funding is an expansion of the funding provided the prior year. The one-time funding is for four LCSWs for six months in FY 2016, and the ongoing money will fund the four LCSWs and one clinical psychologist in FY 2017. One of UNG's key performance measures is personnel readiness. The MFLCs should help the UNG maintain its high performance in troop strength, which has been at or near 100 percent of its target. The State-funded MFLCs have provided over 1,000 consultations and about 4,000 direct hours of services. |
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