Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Clearinghouse For Military Family Readiness?
The Clearinghouse is an interactive and comprehensive resource for professionals working with military service members, veterans, and their families. We have a staff of proactive problem solvers well-versed in the science of program implementation and evaluation.
What is the mission of the Clearinghouse?
The mission of the Clearinghouse is to enhance the health and well-being of service members, veterans, and their families by fostering their readiness and resilience in meeting life’s challenges and by maximizing the rewards of military family life.
How does the Clearinghouse achieve its mission?
The Clearinghouse achieves its mission by providing technical assistance to professionals who support service members, veterans, and their families. It evaluates evidence-based or evidence-informed programs and practices so that you can make informed decisions regarding how best to serve military families.
Is there a cost for the services the Clearinghouse provides to professionals?
No. The Clearinghouse is grant-funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Do Clearinghouse staff members travel to site installations to provide onsite technical assistance?
The Clearinghouse maintains a small staff but serves a large population. Most of our technical assistance is provided through email, phone, or live Web chat. There is no limit to the number of times you can contact us. Onsite visits may be scheduled with permission from the DoD on a case-by-case basis depending on the type of assistance needed. We are confident that the Clearinghouse can assist you to find solutions that meet your local needs.
What programs do you have on the Clearinghouse website?
The Clearinghouse provides an interactive, searchable database that categorizes information on the effectiveness of family-based, family-therapeutic, school-based, and community-based programs. These programs cover a wide variety of risk (e.g., poor academic performance, antisocial behavior, alcohol and drug abuse, family conflict) and protective (e.g., family attachment, interaction with pro-social peers, social skills) factors. If there are programs of interest to you, we provide you with instructions on how to obtain access to them.
Are programs free?
Not usually. However, the cost of programs varies quite widely. Many programs are quite affordable, others are more costly. The most costly programs typically have a major training component where program staff members are required to come to your site. We have a great deal of experience assisting communities in obtaining funding to implement evidence-based programs. Don’t let cost scare you away from the right program. We can also identify less costly alternative programs if they exist.
Are there programs and practices that can be targeted to individuals or individual families rather than groups?
Yes. There are many approaches to working with individuals and individual families. Consult with our technical assistance team by starting a live chat, calling us at 1-877-382-9185, or emailing us to discuss your specific situation.
How does a program get on your list of programs?
The Clearinghouse is currently vetting a list of programs selected by our sponsoring partners. However, we do have a process for submitting programs and practices for review. To learn more about submitting a program for review, read our program submission guidelines.
Is the Clearinghouse a resource for military families?
While the Clearinghouse was not established to be a direct resource for military families, they are always welcome to browse the website. Military families might find useful information, and we will do our best to answer their questions, provide information or referral, and be supportive. Our primary mission is to bolster the capabilities of professionals working with military families by arming them with the best resources and evidence-based programs and practices, and by helping them with our technical assistance team.
How does the Clearinghouse differ from other organizations that review programs?
To learn how the Clearinghouse differs from other organizations that review programs, clearinghouse_comparisons_matrix (PDF).