EXPANDING SERVICES TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF MILITARY FAMILIES

EXPANDING SERVICES TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF MILITARY FAMILIES

Air Force Aid Society continues to evolve to support the unique needs of Airmen, Guardians, and their families by announcing new changes this year! These include expanding emergency assistance to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members, regardless of duty status, and establishing new categories of need such as: Pet Transportation Assistance for Permanent Change of Station orders (PCS), Special Needs Assistance for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) families, and Dorm Relocation Assistance to name a few. As part of AFAS’s commitment to enhance the quality of life to the Total Force, effective May 6, 2021, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members are now eligible to apply for emergency assistance. Previously, Reserve and Guard members were required to be on a Title 10 order for 16 consecutive days or longer or a Title 32 order, Full-Time Active Guard/Reserve (AGR). This requirement has been removed. We also listened to our Air Force and Space Force families and introduced new categories of need that include: Pet PCS Transportation Assistance for Airmen and Guardians who receive PCS orders. Members may apply for up to $1,000 in grant assistance should they have a financial need to transport their dog and/or cat to and from an overseas installation. Special Needs Assistance for EFMP families who may be faced with increased financial requirements

AFAS PARTNERS WITH NMFA TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

AFAS PARTNERS WITH NMFA TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

Many military families are facing challenges when it comes to finding quality childcare. In response to their needs, Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) and Army Emergency Relief (AER) partnered with National Military Family Association (NMFA). AFAS & AER established a partnership to help Airmen, Guardians, and Soldiers in need of childcare assistance. Through the AFAS and AER’s joint partnership with NMFA, we were able to help thousands of Airmen, Guardians, and Soldiers with $1,500 in grant assistance per family. Learn what this support meant for these families in their own words. Stress No More An Air Force family receives a childcare reimbursement award Steven, an Air Force Technical Sergeant, and his spouse Michelle received a childcare reimbursement award after a challenging year. “We were incredibly excited to learn that we had been selected as one of the recipients of the Childcare Reimbursement award. This year has proven to be one of the most challenging years of our family’s existence. As I struggled to start a healthcare consulting company during the pandemic after losing my job with a smaller company, the premature birth of our twins tripled our future childcare expenses. We usually have our family to lean on for affordable childcare here in Texas, but the military threw a PCS to Maryland at us on top of everything. With the