What is Family Advocacy? This program is a Department
of Defense initiative for the prevention, education, intervention and treatment
of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, spouse abuse and
sexual assault. How does it work? When a suspected case of
abuse occurs it is reported to the Family Advocacy Representative
(FAR). It is the responsibility of the FAR to investigate and track
all cases of abuse. Will one person decide a
case? NO!!! After the investigation a sub-committee will
review the case. The sub-committee is chaired by a medical officer and consists
of the FAR, physicians, counselors and investigative personnel. The
sub-committee will decide if the charges are founded, unfounded, suspected or
high risk. The sub-committee then recommends a plan of action to the
servicemember's Commanding Officer. The goal of the program is to
provide victims assistance, strengthen families and keep valuable servicemembers
in the Air Force.