Emergency Assistance

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Call 911 or military law enforcement if you witness domestic abuse, or you or someone you know is in immediate danger.

Joint Base Myer-Henderson hsll 24/7 Domestic Violence Helpline: 703-919-1611

Family Advocacy Program Overview

The Family Advocacy Program is responsible for the prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse/intimate partner violence in military families. It works with civilian social service agencies, military and civilian medical providers, law enforcement, legal personnel, chaplains, and child and youth programs to provide a coordinated community response. The goal of the program is to promote the prevention, early identification, reporting and treatment of child and intimate partner abuse.

Program services vary by installation, but generally include:

• Public awareness campaigns, education and support for individuals, couples and parents
• Parenting support at every age and stage, including New Parent Support Program home visits for expectant parents, new parents and families with young children
• Safety planning, advocacy and support for domestic abuse victims
• Clinical treatment for abusers and all affected family members as appropriate

If a victim chooses to make an UNRESTRICTED report of domestic abuse, both command and law enforcement are notified. Victims have access to support and protection from command, such as a No Contact Order or a Military Protection Order. Victims have access to the full range of services, including medical care, counseling, victim advocacy and safety planning. With an unrestricted report, victims may also seek legal services through the military, and work with a victim advocate to apply for transitional compensation, if applicable.

Domestic abuse victims may choose to make a RESTRICTED report which provides access to the full range of FAP services, including counseling provided by credentialed FAP clinicians, and support from a victim advocate to develop a safety plan. With a restricted report, military law enforcement and command will not be notified. Only three groups of professionals have been granted the authority to keep information about domestic abuse confidential under the restricted reporting option:

• Family Advocacy Program victim advocates
• FAP clinicians
• Health care providers (Note: There are some state-specific laws that may require health care providers to report known or suspected incidents of domestic abuse to law enforcement regardless of victim’s wishes. Check with your local FAP program for additional information.)

While victims are also entitled to the protections of privileged communication with a chaplain, disclosing domestic abuse to the chaplain is not a report and will not connect victims to FAP services. In the event a victim seeking a restricted report is in imminent risk of harm, or someone else is at risk, an unrestricted report must be made so that law enforcement can respond.

For more information see the Military OneSource article Domestic Abuse: Military Reporting Options.

Our FAP office hours are 0800-1600 and we can be reached at 703-696-3512.

No matter how well you plan a move, emergencies can still happen. Before you leave, make sure you have important documents with you, such as your orders, phone numbers for your new unit, and your sponsor's phone number, if applicable.

Emergency assistance and referrals are available at:

• Army Emergency Relief: Office (703-696-3510/8435), Teams Direct Dial (520-687-1258 (Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Army Community Service (America's ACS!): 703-696-3510 (Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647 (24/7)

Financial Emergencies

If you have a financial emergency, it is advisable to utilize the military's Army Emergency Relief program when possible. Financial assistance is usually provided in the form of a no-interest loan. Unfortunately, many local businesses offer "cash advance" services, but the fees and charges, when repaid, can be extremely expensive.

AER offers emergency financial assistance in the following categories:

• Food, rent or utilities
• Emergency transportation and vehicle repair
• Funeral expenses
• Medical/dental expenses
• Personal needs when pay is delayed or stolen

Eligibility

Eligibility for AER includes the following:

• Active duty military
• Members of the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve on continuous active duty for more than 30 days and their dependents, including soldiers on AD for training and serving under various sections of title 10, United States Code
• Soldiers retired from active duty because of longevity or physical disability, or retired upon reaching age 60 and their dependents
• Widows/widowers and orphans of soldiers who died while on active duty or after they retired

Medical Emergencies

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall does not have an emergency room. Beneficiaries with a medical emergency should call 911 or go to the nearest civilian emergency room.