Family Life Center christened
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii chaplains and senior leadership celebrate the grand opening of the garrison’s newly renovated Chaplain Family Life Center, here, Sept. 13. Pictured, from left, cutting the ceremonial maile lei are Chaplain (Col.) Peter Mueller, chaplain, USAG-HI; Chaplain (Maj.) Kelly Porter, Family Life chaplain, USAG-HI ; Chaplain (Maj.) Chris Wilson, Family Life chaplain, USAG-HI; and Col. Daniel Whitney, commander, USAG-HI.
Story and photos by Sarah Pacheco
U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public Affairs
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — The U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii community received a new Chaplain Family Life Center, or CFLC, with a grand opening celebration, here, at the Chapel Annex, Sept. 13.
After a ceremonial untying of a Hawaiian maile lei, guests toured the renovated counseling and training facility.
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — One upgrade of the newly renovated Chaplain Family Life Center, here, is a large, spacious reception area.
The Center includes a large reception area appropriate for families with young children; a counseling room capable of seating larger families, but also of providing an intimate setting for individuals or couples; an observation room with audio and video equipment to monitor counseling sessions and train up to 15 chaplains in basic pastoral counseling skills; and office space for the CFLC staff.
“This center now meets the intent of the Chief of Army Chaplains,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Chris Wilson, Family Life Chaplain, USAG-HI.
“This directly will affect our overarching mission,” added Col. Daniel Whitney, commander, USAG-HI.
Whitney noted that through CFLC counseling, the Hawaii Army force will be better trained to address increasing suicide, domestic violence and sexual assault rates.
The CFLC is a marriage and family counseling center operated by Family Life Chaplains who have completed a master’s degree and internship in marriage and family therapy.
“Family Life Chaplains have more training than most providers,” Wilson explained. “In addition to a marriage and family therapy degree, we also hold advanced theological degrees that train us to think differently and provide more comprehensive assistance to the community.
“(Also), the confidentiality policy is greater than for any other helping agency in the Army,” Wilson added. “What is said in the counseling room is between the chaplain, the counselee and God.
“We are the counseling center for the community,” Wilson continued, “and the community needs to know they will receive a different kind of help when they come to the CFLC.”
Family Life Ministry
Family life ministry features a range of activities undertaken by all Unit Ministry Teams to enable Soldiers to build and maintain personal spiritual health and build/restore healthy relationships.
Faith-based counseling is available to single Soldiers, as well as couples, families or extended families, and offers support in areas such as family-life education, finances, parenting, relationship patterns and deployment stress.
“Family life education is preventive in nature and provides resources for Army constituents to develop healthy relationships on every level, so that they are able to thrive under the pressures of military life,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Kelly Porter, Family Life Chaplain, USAG-HI.
CFLC
The Chaplain Family Life Center is located at the Schofield Barracks Chapel Annex, Bldg. 791, McCornack Road. For more information about the center, its hours of operation or to schedule a session, call (808) 655-9355.
For south communities, a second CFLC is located at the Aliamanu Military Reservation Chapel, Bldg. 1790, 1050 Bougainvillea Loop. Call (808) 839-2413.
Category: Army Family Covenant, Community
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
