MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Marine Corps Community Services, in coordination with Ceridian Corporation, began implementing a new 24-hour information and referral hotline and website, entitled MCCS One Source, Dec. 1.
Representatives from Headquarters Marine Corps and Ceridian were aboard the Depot Jan. 8, to brief unit commanders on the intricacies of the program, which is now available to the Tri-Command.
One Source is very similar to an employee assistance program in the civilian sector, which some major companies and corporations use today. Consultants are readily available through the EAPs to provide assistance to employees on any issues or questions they may have at anytime.
These types of programs have been found to decrease employee absences, improve productivity, increase family readiness and improve employees' overall dispositions while on the job.
"What's been shown overtime, through these civilian organizations, is that if this sort of program is offered and an employee has a place to go to get some of their issues taken care of, they tend to come to work more often and they're happier on the job," said Mary Craig, information and referral specialist, Marine Corps Family Team Building, Headquarters Marine Corps.
"They enjoy their company a little bit more and they focus on the work at hand. The company is, therefore, more productive."
One Source, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, is an expansion of the services MCCS already offers, serving as a force multiplier.
The areas that One Source provides assistance in are parenting and child care, education, midlife and retirement, older adults, disability, financial, legal, everyday issues, international, managing people, and health and wellness. Most of these services are already provided on the Depot through MCCS-South Carolina.
Marines, sailors, family members, retirees and civilian employees who may have been in need of these services before, were being limited to MCCS-SC business hours and having to be aboard the Depot in order to receive any assistance.
Not everyone could access these services when needed, due to circumstances such as living off base or having their own conflicting working hours. One Source makes these services more readily available, allowing the luxury of being able to receive assistance anytime, anywhere.
"At this point, 66 percent of all Marines and their families live off base," said Craig. "Therefore, it may not always be convenient for them to get in and use our services that we already offer."
Ninety-four percent of all callers are connected with actual person within 20 seconds, according to Craig.
"You simply dial the 1-800 number and MCCS One Source connects you with a consultant best suited to answer your particular concern or offer the support you need," she said. "We also have a translation service for over 140 languages, as well as assistance for the hearing impaired."
One Source is a two-year, Secretary of Defense funded, pilot program.
Marine Corps will be testing the program and evaluating its progress to see if it is something they want to invest in after the initial two years is up.
Some of the other services have already purchased employee assistance programs from Ceridian, who services over 10,000 companies, including 44 Fortune 100 companies.
However, the Marine Corps is the first service to implement the program total force.
"If you look at it from a personal family readiness standpoint, this fits well for the Marine Corps," said Craig. "If a Marine and a family member have a place to go to get answers to their questions, then they're going to be able to focus on their mission. In turn, it may help that Marine with their decision to re-enlist in the Marine Corps, as well."
To access One Source via phone within the United States, call 1-800-433-6868. Overseas, call 1-800-237-42374 or collect at 1-484-530-5908.
To access the website, go to www.mccsonesource.com, user ID: marines and password: semper fi.
For more information, contact Craig at 703-784-0295 or email at craigmj@manpower.usmc.mil.