Edwards IDS team reminds civilians, 'We're here for you'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Concerned about the well-being of civilian employees, particularly the number of suicides, Air Force Materiel Command recently kicked off the AFMC Civilian Workforce Wellness Program.

In this program, the Edwards Integrated Delivery System, which is a committee of all of the base's helping agencies, is working to reach out more to the civilian workforce and remind them of all the available services they may turn to for assistance with any personal issues they face.

"For so long, on a lot of military bases, people have had the impression that we are strictly here for military personnel," said Ms. Kimberly Shirley, Edwards IDS chairman. "That is not the case. We are here to serve the community of Edwards. We are here for everybody (both military and civilian), and that's what we want them to know."

The IDS consists of several agencies: the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Chaplain Services, Civilian Health Promotion Services, Employee Assistance Program, Equal Employment Opportunity, Health and Wellness Center, Mental Health Services, and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, to name a few.

"Each agency will have an opportunity to elaborate on the services they provide and how you can contact them to take advantage of their services," Ms. Shirley said.

Ms. Shirley, who is also the Edwards Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, explained she is available to anyone who may need to speak to her regarding issues of sexual assaults. She teaches bystander intervention classes three to four times a week, and also serves on an Antelope Valley committee which works to help people get past the stigma of re-victimizing victims.

"We want them (the victims) to know they can come forward and there is help available 24 hours a day," she said. "I'm available for anyone to come and speak to me. They can even speak to me anonymously if they choose."

The Airman and Family Readiness Center can provide services such as financial assistance, help spouses find employment, and help with writing resumes.

"There's an active Employment Assistance Program available to civilians," Ms. Shirley said. "There are resume writing classes. There are people who can assist spouses in looking for jobs. They even have someone to help them learn how to navigate through websites, such as USA Jobs."

The Finances and Work-Life Balance team is also located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center. They assist individuals with financial analysis, budgets or emergency funds through the Air Force Aid Society.

Members of the Mental Health team, which is a part of the 95th Medical Group, stand ready to help people during stressful times in their lives. However, if an individual needs to speak to a Military Family and Life Consultant, they can also visit the Airman and Family Readiness Center where they'll be able to speak to someone confidentially without having any of their information recorded. There are also Youth Life Consultants for parents who may need someone to talk to about things such as how to make changes in their children's behaviors.

"Suicide Prevention is handled in the mental health arena, however, it's also being taught through the Drug Demand and Reduction Program," Ms. Shirley said. "Jon Fishman provides classes on those subjects and briefs members of the community, especially our first-time supervisors, on what to look for, what to observe, how to make reports and how to help individuals who may be suicidal."

In efforts to keep the civilian workforce physically healthy, the Health and Wellness Center, as well as Civilian Health and Promotion Services provides dieticians and exercise programs for those who seek their assistance.

The Unplanned Pregnancy program offers an orientation for first-time parents and assists them with getting a good start with their new baby.

Also, if needed, the legal office provides a variety of services from help with a will, to questions on civil matters. Legal officers can act as advisors, or resources, but not as personal attorneys.

"We want our civilian workforce to understand that we want this to be a better place for them to both live and work," Ms. Shirley said. "They are a very important and vital part of our team."

The Edwards IDS team provides a number of resources available to the base's civilian workforce. Future articles will be published to provide more details on all types of services each agency offers.