Ellsworth receives new counseling alternative Published May 1, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- As of April 14, Ellsworth became one of 11 Air Combat Command bases to receive the Military and Family Life Consultant program, developed to help Airmen and their families cope with the stresses of today's military life; MFLCs will work here in conjunction with the Airman and Family Readiness Center for the next four years. The MFLCs will assist those on the base with coping skills, conflict resolution, grief, family issues, relationships, deployment stress, parent-child communication, family separations, reunion and reintegration, said Ira LeGrande, Air Combat Command community readiness policy analyst. "The bottom line is that the War on Terror has put unique pressures on servicemembers and their families," said Mark Kjellerson, AFRC director. "In response to this, the Department of Defense began the MFLC program." The program was tested throughout other branches of the Armed Forces as well as several other Air Force major commands before making its way to ACC, he said. It didn't become apparent that Ellsworth would receive MFLCs until the end of 2007. Clinicians for the MFLC program are sourced from civilian organizations. Candidates chosen as MFLC clinicians are pulled from local, reputable companies such as large counseling firms, Mr. Kjellerson said. MHN Government Services is the corporation that sub-contracts these firms to staff our program. Those who are chosen must meet certain criterion to be able to participate as MFLCs. It is required to have a master's degree to be a clinician, Mr. Kjellerson said. "Most have their degree in social work or counseling, and they all are fully accredited and licensed in their field of expertise." Each clinician will serve 45-day rotations in the program. "The belief behind this is that a person who comes for counseling will be more at ease with someone who they know is only temporarily here," Mr. Kjellerson said. "Clients will not have to feel their problem will linger with someone who is permanently staffed." Individuals, however, are not the only ones who can benefit from services offered by the MFLC; sessions can include a significant other or group, he said. Those who receive counseling are protected by anonymity except when state, federal and military reporting requirements dictate otherwise for protection of personnel. MFLC is meant to be a helping hand to services already in place on the base. "All base personnel and their dependents can contact our MFLC specialist with a concern or problem," Mr. Kjellerson said. "The intent is not to duplicate chaplains and mental health services, but to facilitate a 'warm hand-off' of sorts to these organizations, should the person need further care." This helping hand is greatly appreciated by leadership of the facilities it will affect. "The MFLC will be a real asset to the Ellsworth community," said Capt. Rolf Holmquist, 28th Operations Group chaplain. "We work on a high ops-tempo base, coupled with long deployments, and our families are stretched thin. Having another counselor to help the Ellsworth families will only be a plus." "[The program] is here to augment our services and will increase the avenues that may be pursued by base personnel and dependents experiencing distress who are seeking help with non-clinical life and family issues," said Capt. Shawna Zierke, 28th Medical Operations Squadron mental health services officer in charge. "We are grateful for the support." For more information on the MFLC program, call (605) 385-4663, or to make an appointment with an MFLC, call (605) 430-0332.