Top Questions – Spouse / Partner
▼ Q: We already have a strong family. How can FOCUS help?
A. FOCUS is uniquely designed as a prevention program, building on the existing strengths of the family. Families will learn skills that will serve them now and for any future military transitions. FOCUS families report feeling more connected and better prepared for the future.
▼ Q: My service member has been in the military for a long time. How can FOCUS help us now?
A. Families have to deal with different challenges that arise with each new deployment, PCS, or even school year. As kids grow older, they might ask questions about your military service that are tougher to answer. They also may be faced with new challenges that are just a normal part of growing up. You may find your relationship has changed over time and you need to learn new ways to talk about those changes and reconnect as a couple. FOCUS provides skills-training to help families learn new ways to deal with common challenges and form strong bonds.
▼ Q. How can FOCUS help our children?
A. FOCUS teaches kids techniques for dealing with their concerns about past or present challenges and hard times, including relaxation skills and ways to deal with their emotions so they can function better at home and in school.
▼ Q: I feel like I have so many different responsibilities to juggle – how can FOCUS help me be the best parent I can be?
A. FOCUS teaches parents to work with their kids to solve family problems by setting and achieving family goals in small, realistic steps. You will learn how to talk to your kids about any concerns they have and learn about the importance of your own self care.
▼ Q: My children have been having a hard time since my service member returned – is there anything FOCUS does to help with this process?
A. Even though kids are usually very excited when their parent returns from deployment, they can sometimes also have a hard time. FOCUS helps parents understand why their kids might have difficulty with this adjustment, suggest ways to talk to their kids about this change, and recommend activities to help with the reunion.
▼ Q. My service member seems different since he returned – how can FOCUS help us come together as family to support and understand each other more effectively?
A. Service members returning from deployment might find it tough to adjust to being home again. They may be dealing with the effects of combat operational stress and/or physical injuries and may find it difficult to talk with their family members about their deployment experiences. It may be challenging to feel part of the family again after being gone for so long and missing out on many important family events. FOCUS teaches you and your family how to talk about deployment experiences, suggests activities that can help you reconnect, and supports your family in developing a plan to deal with combat stress or injuries.