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Pilot Projects Coming Soon to Several MFRCs

How do you know if great ideas will work? Test them out!

After months of research, collaboration and planning, Director Military Family Services (DMFS) is pleased announce the launch of a set of pilot projects for the Enhancement of the Military Family Services Program (MFSP) at selected Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs). 

The Chief Military Personnel (CMP) has approved funding for several exciting projects, each with the potential to complement and enhance the MFSP for the benefit of Canadian Forces (CF) families. Pilot projects have been developed for each of the Enhancement themes: child care, health care, education, deployment and reunion, mental health and social support, and employment.

In selecting the pilot projects, DMFS took a balanced approach by adapting successful local programs into national ones and developing new ideas with MFRCs who are well-suited to the project’s subject matter. Strengthening partnerships to make local communities and service providers more aware of the unique needs, skills and attributes of military families will play a key role in many of the pilot projects’ success. Several of the pilots will also make great use of online communications and information-sharing capabilities to ensure that virtual resources and services are readily available and accessible to families wherever they may live.

DMFS will provide guidance, support and funding as each pilot project is tested, and will gather feedback to refine the projects before the successful initiatives are launched as national services. The pilots will allow DMFS to figure out which projects work, and which need some rethinking. The tweaks, readjustments and clarifications determined during the pilot phase will help DMFS deliver the best possible services for military families.

MFRCs will be selected to host pilot projects based on their CF community’s environment, operational tempo, size, location, and the approval of the Chain of Command. DMFS will also consider each MFRC’s previous experience with the pilot project’s subject matter, community-identified need for such a program, and the resources at the disposal of the MFRC.

The MFRCs selected to facilitate the pilot projects will be notified later in March 2009. Following their formal notification and acceptance of the project, they will receive the funds to run the pilot project from CMP through DMFS. After receiving all necessary funding and information, the MFRCs will run their pilot activities from May to November 2009, reporting to DMFS regularly on their project’s progress, successes and challenges.

DMFS is delighted to be moving on to the next phase of enhancing the MFSP, and looks forward to working with MFRCs to further develop military family services.