FOCUS program supports Keesler families Published June 18, 2013 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Remember as a child how you counted the minutes until recess, hungry for sunshine, fresh air and a break from reading, writing and arithmetic? Well, if that same longing strikes you June 20 as you deal with workplace demands, take a break for hopscotch, jump rope and games. The "Recess At Work Day," 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 108, Hewes Hall, offers games, refreshments and a chance to learn stress-relief techniques from members of the Keesler FOCUS team. "It's open to any Keesler people who need a recess," said Tracey Johnson, resiliency services coordinator for the FOCUS program at Keesler. Other staff members are Kim Perez, site director, and Kelly Wallace, resiliency trainer. FOCUS -- Families OverComing Under Stress -- provides resiliency training to military service members and their families. The program, originally offered at designated Navy and Marine Corps sites, began serving Keesler in 2011 through support from the Department of Defense Office of Family Policy. Service members and their loved ones face many challenges related to military service, such as transitions, reintegration, deployment, illness and injuries. These emotional ups and downs affect parents, children and extended family members. "FOCUS is a skills-based program for military families," Johnson explained. "We help families to become stronger and more resilient with basic five skills -- managing feelings, enhancing communication, setting and attaining realistic goals, effective problem-solving and learning to cope with deployment reminders. "When a family or couple comes to FOCUS, we help them identify their strengths and teach them how to increase and build upon those strengths to become closer and more resilient," she continued. "Our program works with the family unit as a whole and not just one member. FOCUS is evidence-based and designed to meet each family's individual needs. "Families develop a shared understanding of how their deployment experience creates a unique story to enhance resiliency and prepare for a current or future deployment," Johnson added. In addition to individual family resiliency training, FOCUS has several creative and effective tools that children can easily understand. A "feelings thermometer" and "feelings foxes" help them identify and manage feelings through games, stories, crafts, and other creative interventions. "We team up with other agencies on base for kid-friendly activities and events," Johnson pointed out. "FOCUS participates in monthly story times with McBride Library and introduces a skill that children can use to identify and manage feelings, set age-appropriate goals or learn problem-solving techniques. We also provide similar skill-building sessions at the youth activities center and child development center on a regular basis and try to do seasonal events at the arts and crafts center a few times during the year." For more information, visit the FOCUS office in Room 108 of Hewes Hall, call 377-3453, email Keesler@focusproject.org or log on to www.focusproject.org.