Relocation Assistance Program

1
Relocation Assistance Program Training for
Supervisors
Presented by Trena Philo, Relocation
Manager Trena.philo_at_dla.mil [phone]
2
Agenda

• 1. Why This Training? 8. Services Provided
• 2. Authority 9. Resources
• 3. Customer Comments 10. Process of
  Notification
• 4. Considerations for Moving 11. What Happens
• 5. Eligibility 12. Benefits for Supervisors
• 6. Prohibitions Against Discrimination 13.
  Benefits for Employees
• 7. Relocation Readiness 14. Closing

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Why this training?
4
Why this training?

• Mandated by Congress and DoD

• 1985 National Defense Authorization Act for
  FY1986 (P.L. 99-145) DoD directed report on
  desirability feasibility of providing
  contracted relocation assistance to members of
  uniformed services and their families

• 1986 House Report (99-718) on FY1987 Defense
  Authorization Act requested DoD to conduct a
  test of contracted relocation services. Army
  conducted the test as Executive Agent.

• National Defense Authorization Act for
  FY1990-1991 directed DoD to establish
  relocation assistance programs

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Why this training?

• Lack of consistency in the building
• Why? Confusion! What is this program all about?

• More importantly my customers, your employees,
  are not being adequately supported

• Whichaffects our MISSION yours, DLAs, and the
  soldiers!
• RESULT -- Costing government taxpayer !

6
Authority

• AR 608-1, Personal Affairs Army Community
  Service Center
• DODI 1338.19 Relocation Assistance Programs
• DLA One Book, DLAD 5025.3 Relocation Assistance
  Program

• Mission Statement from AR 608-1

Facilitate commanders ability to provide
comprehensive, coordinated, and responsive
services that support readiness of Soldiers,
civilian employees and their families.
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Authority continued

• Criteria for establishing

• Are not tenants or satellites of a host
  installation

• Authorize families to join their sponsors

• Have an installation population of 500 or more
  assigned

8
Customer Comments HELP!

• Ive been living out of McCamlys for the past 6
  months. I didnt know you could help me find
  temporary housing! a contract employee

• My boss told me I wasnt relocating, although I
  moved from Florida. Only those on PCS orders are
  relocating (said the supervisor). federal
  employee

• Ive been here 3 months and I really could have
  used your help as soon as I arrived! federal
  employee

• I didnt know the HDIFC had a Relocation
  Assistance Office! I really could have used your
  help! a military member

• I rented an apartment for my family sight
  unseen. When I arrived, I refused to move my
  family into it! a federal employee

• A co-worker told me this hotel was great. When
  I arrived, it was so awful that I quickly found
  another one! a military member

• I walked by and saw your office sign I really
  needed your help when I moved here! a federal
  employee

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Customer Comments -- THANKS!

• The apartment complex you recommended is
  outstanding! Im telling everyone I know that
  moves here! -- federal employee

• I only had 3 weeks to get a passport. Thank you
  for getting me to the right source! My passport
  arrived in plenty of time! military dependent

• Thank you with sorting out the PCS entitlements
  for our team. BRACd federal team from another
  state

• You gave me peace of mind helping me locate a
  daycare center, physician, a home, and different
  activities for my family! federal employee

• The tools that you provided helped me prepare my
  family (included spouse, children and pets) for
  our out-of-country move! federal employee

• Thank you for finding me a relocation assistant
  in our new location. federal contract employee

• Thank you for providing resources to help me
  move with a physically challenged family member.
  federal employee

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What are some considerations for moving?
Leaving elderly parents?
Precious pets?
Foreign country!
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Considerations for Moving

• Across Town, City-to-City or any move
• Utilities (phone, trash, electricity, natural
  gas/propane)
• Post Office drivers license address change
• Selling/buying home or sign/break rental lease
• Packing
• Movers (professional or family friends)
• Notify / find physician(s), pharmacy, insurance
  companies, subscriptions, investment companies,
  schools, babysitter, pet caretakers (vet,
  groomer, etc.), friends, church, clubs
  associations, charities, etc.

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Considerations for Moving

• Moving State-to-State and Out-of-Country
• All on last slide AND
• Movers (TMO)
• Inventory property
• What do you pack?
• Passport VISAs
• Shots health requirements (refill
  prescriptions)
• Pet health shipping requirements
• Obtain school medical records

13
Considerations for Moving

• Moving out-of-country - continued
• Per diem, entitlements
• House hunting trip
• Temporary lodging / transitional housing
• Budget comparisons cost of living (foreign
  exchange, taxes, fees, etc.)
• Credit cards valid at foreign locations
• Elderly parents
• Family members with special needs
• Community comparisons
• and more!

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Eligible Customers

• For DLA and local military

• Active duty retired personnel their families

• Military reserve components when on active duty
  their family members

• Appropriated nonappropriated fund employees
  their families

• Family members of prisoners of war or personnel
  missing in action

• Surviving family members of military personnel
  who died while on active duty

• In a nutshell if a DoD or DLA member moves
  to/out of Battle Creek Relocation Assistance in
  available to assist them!

• Relocation Assistance will provide information to
  DLA contract employees (short or long term)

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General Prohibitions Against Discrimination

• Will provide the appropriate reasonable
  accommodations to all employees and persons
  receiving services in accordance with federal
  standards

• Will provide reasonable accommodations in
  coordination with the host activitys Equal
  Employment Opportunity Program Manager for
  Persons with Individual Disabilities exceptions
  will be requested through the chain of command
  listed in AR 608-1

• Ensuring facility accessibility surveys are
  conducted and that facilities are accessible

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General Prohibitions Against Discrimination contin
ued

• Coordinate with the appropriate staff (EEO,
  occupational health activities, information
  management, and the labor counselor) to obtain
  devices and services that implement individual
  requests for reasonable accommodation.

• Provide sign-language interpreters

• Ensure that relocation information (web sites,
  published) is accessible in accordance with
  federal standards

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Relocation Readiness

• Purpose to reduce or eliminate problems arising
  due to moves
• Anyone moving into/out of local/surrounding areas
• Provides counseling for inbound/outbound
  transferees
• Transferees are personnel on/not on PCS orders --
  MOVING
• Focus on pre-departure counseling and relocation
  planning

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Relocation Readiness continued

• Counseling includes
• Assess clients individual or family needs
  particular relocation circumstances
• Destination information schools, housing,
  community resources, cost-of-living adjustments
• Entitlements
• Reimbursements
• Household goods shipment
• Provisions of referral, follow-up advocacy in
  resolving problems

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Services Provided

• Installation community resources
• DLA MWR programs information
• Child Development Center
• Fitness Center
• Family Support Programs
• City-to-city cost-of-living community
  comparisons
• Housing options (rent / purchase / temporary
  lodging)
• Understanding entitlements (JFTR, JTR, DFAS PCS
  Guide)
• State local tax information

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Services Provided continued

• Destination / settling-in (directions,
  banks/ATMs, groceries, etc.)
• School information
• Job search information for dependents
• Michigan State Offices voter registration, MI
  drivers license/ID
• Moving with children, elders pets
• Family recreation area programs
• Religious affiliation locations
• Volunteerism opportunities

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Services Provided continued

• Departing - connect with Relocation Assistance at
  the new location
• Overseas information
• Where how to obtain passports
• Transportation Management Office Selfridge
• SUMMARY
• Provide information on community services
• Assess the need for services and information
• Provide crisis intervention services
• Act as liaison with military civilian agencies
  to ensure assistance

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Resources
Become familiar with this site!

• MWR Relocation Assistance TRICARE website
• http//hdifederalcentermwr.com/Relocation20Assist
  ance/RelocationAssistance.html

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Resources

• Military OneSources Relocation Essentials
• http//www.relocationessentials.com/aff/militaryon
  esource/default.aspx

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Resources continued

• Military HomeFronts

• Military Installations - http//www.militaryinstal
  lations.dod.mil/ismart/MHF-MI/

• Plan My Move - http//apps.mhf.dod.mil/pls/psgprod
  /f?p10712824733016973517

• Moving 101 - http//www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/
  portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_1?section_id20.40.
  500.398.0.0.0.0.0current_id20.40.500.398.500.75.
  0.0.0

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Resources continued

• Welcome packages
• Welcome letter from Relocation Assistance
  Manager
• Local fact sheets all available on MWR
  Relocation Assistance website
• Local maps
• Housing information purchase / rental
• Local demographics
• DLA Life Connections
• HDIFC booklet, post card, HDIFC magnets for MWR
  and closure information
• MWR Information
• County Chamber of Commerce booklets

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Resources continued

• Welcome packages - continued
• The Newcomers Guide
• Wellness Magazine
• Pamphlets, brochures, books/booklets for
  particular family situations
• Sell/buy homes, renting, moving pets, elder
  parents, teens, children, single, overseas, and
  more
• And more

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Process of Notification

• Supervisor coordination with DHRC-N
• Employee receives firm job offer letter with
  instructions
• Contact Relocation Assistance Manager before
  arrival

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Process after Supervisor Notification What
Happens Next

• Immediately - supervisor assigns a sponsor
  provides the sponsor checklist
• Sponsor or supervisor notifies Relocation
  Assistance Manager of new employee
• Arrival date
• Provide phone number and/or email address
• Sponsor contacts new employee
• Relocation Assistance Manager will contact new
  employee
• First day, sponsor will bring new employee to
  Relocation Assistance Office (best to make an
  appointment) with checklist

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Process after Supervisor Notification What
Happens Next

• Relocation Assistance Manager will answer
  questions, ensure no problems, offer further
  assistance
• Relocation Assistance Manager will be available
  to answer newcomers questions until settled in

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Benefits for Supervisors

• Employee ready to begin new duties immediately!
• Employee focused on new duties not relocating
  issues
• A more productive employee
• A more productive team
• Accomplish the mission without relocation
  diversions

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Benefits for Employee

• Employee is ready to focus on new job
• Unnecessary stress about relocation issues
• Potentially save money
• Better relocation decisions
• Fewer leave days taken due to relocating
• A much happier employee family
• A more productive employee

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Summary

• Working together to help the new employee
  transition will have positive results, saving
  both the government and the employee money and
  stress, and providing an employee that will be
  happy to begin the new job immediately!
• Questions?
• Thank you for attending! I look forward to
  working with you, the sponsors, and your new
  employees!

Trena Philo, Relocation Assistance
Manager Trena.philo_at_dla.mil [phone]