Family Advocacy

The mission of the Air Force’s Family Advocacy Program is to build healthy communities through implementing programs designed for the prevention and treatment of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and problematic sexual behavior in children and youth. The FAP promotes public awareness within the military community and coordinates professional intervention at all levels within the civilian and military communities, including law enforcement, social services, health services, and legal services. The FAP is designed to break the cycle of abuse and neglect by identifying maltreatment as early as possible and providing treatment for affected family members.

Eligibility

Active duty service members and their dependents

National Guard and Reserve members on active-duty orders and their families

In joint base environments where the Air Force is the supporting service, it manages the FAP office, and all reports to FAP are processed and governed in accordance with the appropriate DOD and Air Force policies.

Benefit Highlights

New Parent Support Program: NPSP is a voluntary program that provides support to Airmen and family members who are expecting a child or have a child or children up to 3 years of age. The NPSP provides information related to pregnancy, labor and delivery, newborn, infant and child care, safety, nutrition, growth and development, and positive parenting strategies in the military environment. Services include:

• Home visits by registered nurses and/or social workers
• Prenatal classes
• Playgroups
• Parenting classes
• Fatherhood groups
• Referrals to other resources

Family Advocacy Strengths-based Therapy Services: FAST is a voluntary program that provides prevention counseling (individual, couple, and family) to Airmen and family members who are not eligible for NPSP (couples without children or children older than 3) and are seeking to strengthen family relationships.

Maltreatment Intervention Services: Clinical social workers provide individual, couples, and group therapy services to alleged offenders of child and partner maltreatment, as well as adult and child victim clinical and supportive services.

Domestic Abuse Victim Advocacy Program: DAVA provides comprehensive assistance and support to spouse or unmarried intimate partner victims of domestic abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), including crisis intervention, safety planning, assistance in securing medical treatment for injuries, information on legal services and proceedings, and referral to military and civilian shelters and other resources available to victims. DAVAs also support non-offending caregivers in child maltreatment and PSB-CY cases.

• 24/7 crisis response
• Crisis intervention and support
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Information on restricted and unrestricted reporting options
• Coordination of emergency services; transportation, housing, food, etc.
• Information on the Transitional Compensation program
• Assistance in obtaining military and civilian protective orders
• Accompaniment through the medical, investigative, and legal processes
• Provide warm hand-offs to additional resources

To contact the Joint Base Andrews 24/7 DAVA Hotline, please call 301-228-0475.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the Family Advocacy Program's webpage on Military OneSource

Air Force Family Advocacy Program Domestic Abuse Victim Advocacy 24/7 Hotline Numbers

Department of the Air Force Instruction 40-301

https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/publication/dafi40-301/dafi40-301.pdf

DoD Instruction 6400.06, DoD Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Abuse Involving DoD Military and Certain Affiliated Personnel
 
24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 (SAFE); chat live at www.thehotline.org

National Dating Abuse Helpline: 866-331-9474