Soldier and Family Readiness Center

Soldier Family Readiness Specialists will be activated as multi-disciplinary humanitarian response to all Military and Family related readiness events. This includes Hurricane/Disaster Preparation, State Active Duty Orders, and Federal Active Duty Orders, Civil Disturbance orders, Medical Support orders or Mobilization/Deployments. An SFRS offers to those affected by these events a resource to receive reliable and accurate information as well as referrals to obtain crisis/grief support, and benefits information.

Soldier and Family Readiness Specialists

Soldier and Family Readiness Specialists Centers (SFRS) will be activated as a multi-disciplinary humanitarian response to major events such as natural or man-made disasters, or in preparation for a large deployment. An SFRS offers a place where those affected by an event or mobilization/deployment can receive reliable and accurate information, referrals to obtain crisis or grief support, and benefits information.

SFRS are modular and scalable, incorporating disciplinary cells deemed necessary for support. Soldier and Family Readiness (SFRS) advise and counsel on all matters relating to Family Programs. SFRS are located in One Stop Shops inside the SCARNG Armories throughout the state and manned by contractors and state employees, available to assist families and Service Members in all areas. The SFRS team is available to assist any branch of service.
 


Military and Family Life Consultant

The Military and Family Life Consultant is a licensed mental health professional who provides non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling services to military individuals, couples, families, children and groups. Facilitates educational groups addressing life skills and military lifestyle topics, including but not limited to: deployment and reunification, communication, stress management, couple related issues, grief/loss, and parenting. MFLCs act as liaisons in the local community to expand partnerships to bridge the gap between need and current program delivery for military guard and reserve components, in efforts to connect military families with each other and with appropriate resources.

The Child and Youth Military Life Consultant is a licensed mental health professional who provides non-medical, short-term, solution- focused counseling and training to military families, children and youth (ages 0-18), in individual, group and family settings. The Child and Youth MFLC facilitates educational groups in addition to raising family and community awareness about the effects of deployment and reunification on children and youth, to include educating and training parents, teachers, school counselors, and other professionals. They explore new partnerships, expands weekend and short-term programs and services, and partners with appropriate programs/resources for children and youth.

Hotline: 843-607-2232

Personal Financial Counselor

Personal Financial Counselors (PFC) can aid with a wide range of budgeting and money management skills. They can help service members and their spouses understand the fundamentals of personal financial management, the management of debt and credit, comprehend the components of the military retirement system, recognize the importance of developing savings and an emergency fund, recognize misleading consumer practices, and navigate resources to increase financial literacy and understanding of personal financial management.

Scheduling Personal Finance Counselor Services

Service members and their qualifying dependents can schedule a no-cost appointment for financial counseling with the SCNG Personal Financial Counselor. PFCs are also available to provide support to service members and their families virtually, regardless of location. Non-remarried surviving spouses and children of deceased service members are eligible to receive support as well.

Consumer and Financial Protections

Service members have several protections available to them to help limit the effects of predatory lending practices, unfair debt collection practices and other consumer risks including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Military Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED) Resources

The FINRED https://finred.usalearning.gov/ website has official information, articles, tips, and tools for helping service members and their families develop and maintain financial readiness. For regular tips and information on military money topics, follow FINRED on FacebookInstagramLinkedInX and YouTube. For financial information specific to the military spouse, visit the MilSpouse Money Mission website. For financial tips on the go, download Sen$e — a no-cost mobile app.
 

 

Child and Youth Programs



The South Carolina National Guard Child & Youth Program Team implements and facilitates training, readiness, and resilience programs for military children and youth grades K-12.  Contact us to request national, state, and local resources,  and to learn more about the Teen Panel, Youth Camp, Outdoor Programs or other available programs. 


Our Mission

To promote and sustain the quality of life and resilience of ARNG dependent children and youth by providing secure, timely, flexible, high-quality support services and enrichment programs.

Our Purpose

Reduce the conflict between parental responsibilities and mission requirements by providing geographically dispersed Army Soldiers and their families readiness and resilience focused programming resources.

National Goals 

To provide Education, Access, Opportunity, Communication, Perform Outreach, and infuse Resilience and Leadership Skills into all Army National Guard Child & Youth Programming.
 


Youth Camp

Parents, are you looking for fun and adventurous activities for your children to partake in during the summer break? Then the South Carolina National Guard Youth Camp is the place. Youth Camp is accepting applications for children ages 10-17. Children must be the immediate family member (i.e. son, daughter, brother, or sister) of a South Carolina National Guard member, retiree, or employee. Grandchildren of South Carolina National Guard members, retirees, or employees will be considered after all qualified applicants.

Teen Panel 

A unique opportunity to become involved with other National Guard teens, creating a small committee to build relationships that involve networking, discuss and solve teen issues, and venture out in ways unimaginable. This program will help to cultivate communication, development and leadership skills.

Resources 

  • Our Military Kids – Provides grants for sports, fine arts, camps, and tutoring programs during a parent's deployment or recover, for children aged 3-18.
    https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/apply/
 
  • Military Child Education Coalition - Military Child Education Coalition [MCEC] providing educational information and programs.
    https://www.militarychild.org/
 
  • Tutoring - Free homework help and online tutoring for K – 12 and adult learners Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve student anytime.
    http://military.tutor.com
     
  • Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids - List of education consultants, psychologists, diagnosticians, health care specialists, academic tutors, speech language therapists, advocates, and attorneys in each state along with government programs, grassroots organizations, special education and parent support groups.
    https://www.yellowpagesforkids.com/
 
  • National Parent Training and Information Center - National Parent Training and Information Center for military families providing support and advice to military parents.
    https://www.parentcenterhub.org/
 

Contact







 

Family Program Manager
Daniel D. Contreras
Office: (803) 299-4205
Email: daniel.d.contreras2.mil@army.mil
 
                                                                       
Budget Analyst
Justus T. McQueen
Office: (803)-299-4030          
Email: justus.t.mcqueen.mil@army.mil 
 












































 

Contact



Personal Finance Counselor 
Ms. Lesley Schmidt, Bluff Road Readiness Ctr
1225 Bluff Rd.
Columbia 29201
Office: 803-299-5392
Cell: 803-602-8526
Email: pfc.columbia@magellanfederal.com


Personal Finance Counselor 
Ms. Cecilia Brien, Bluff Road Readiness Ctr
1225 Bluff Rd.
Columbia 29201
Office: 803-299-5392
Cell: 803-602-8526
Email: pfc.columbia@magellanfederal.com

Contact



Lead Child and Youth Program Coordinator

Mr. James E. Harris, Jr.
Cell: 803.667.2056
Email: james.e.harris704.ctr@army.mil

Child and Youth Program Coordinator
Matalyn Bulwinkle
Office: 803-521-1038
Cell: 803-924-7938
Email: matalyn.e.bulwinkle.ctr@army.mil


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