Service  Center  serves  as  a  focal  point  for  infor- mation   about,   and   coordination   with   a   full range   of   Navy, Navy-related,   and   civilian resources,  services,  and  programs  that  can  sup- port and assist Navy service members and their families. Family Service Centers provide signifi- cant  support  to  unit  commanders  by  assisting them  with  deployment  preparations,  including predeployment  briefings,  the  preparation  of  a dependents’  deployment  handbook,  and  contin- uing  family  support  throughout  the  separation. Family  Service  Centers  also  have  the  capability to  provide  selected  family  support  services  and family  enrichment  programs  directly. The   Marine   Corps   Family   Service   Center operates in much the same manner as the Navy Family  Service  Center  and  offers  similar  serv- ices. THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS The American Red Cross, established in 1881 and chartered by Congress in 1900, has from its inception  provided  needed  services  to  members of  the  Armed  Forces  and  their  families.  These services   are   also   provided   to   retired   military personnel, veterans, and their dependents. The   organization   is   headquartered   in Washington,  DC.  It  is  funded  by  voluntary  con- tributions and the work is carried out primarily by  volunteers.    There  are  more  than  3,000 chapters  in  communities  throughout  the  United States, at military installations and in hospitals worldwide,   and   at   Veterans’   Administration Offices. The mission of the American Red Cross is to help  members  of  the  Armed  Forces  and  their families cope with personal and family emergen- cies  and  with  problems  arising  from  family separation. Specific services include, but are not limited to: Counseling  in  relation  to  personal  and family  problems. Maintaining   family   ties   by   assisting with  communications  between  family  members through  Red  Cross  channels.  These  communica- tions may involve notice of birth, death, serious illness,   critical   family   problems,   and   other urgent situations. Assisting  service  members  and  military authorities  in  decisions  regarding  leave,  reassign- ment,  and  discharge  by  providing  reports  about family emergencies. Giving   financial   assistance   to   meet emergency  needs  through  interest-free  loans  or grants. Providing   information   and   help   in obtaining service from specialized sources in the community. Assisting   patients   in   military   hospitals with  problems  created  or  intensified  by  illness and  providing  for  the  care  and  comfort  of relatives who visit patients. Assisting  veterans,  their  dependents  and survivors,  in  preparing  and  developing  applica- tions  for  Government  benefits. The  American  Red  Cross  works  closely  with the  Navy  Relief  Society  (NRS).  The  Red  Cross provides  a  channel  of  communication  and  serv- ice   between   the   NRS   and   Navy   and   Marine Corps families that do not live near an NRS aux- iliary  or  branch. CASUALTY   ASSISTANCE CALLS  PROGRAM The  Casualty  Assistance  Calls  Program (CACP) aids Navy and Marine Corps families in the  event  of  death,  serious  injury,  or  capture of a Navy or a Marine Corps member in the line of  duty.  In  the  event  of  a  member’s  death,  or if  the  member  is  captured  or  declared  missing in  action,  or  receives  any  injury  requiring hospitalization  in  a  combat  zone,  the  Navy  or Marine  Corps  will  detail  a  casualty  assistance calls   officer   (CACO)   to   personally   notify   the next  of  kin.  Personal  notification  is  effected regardless   of   where   the   casualty   occurs.   The casualty   assistance   calls   officer   will   assist the spouse of a deceased Navy or Marine Corps member   in   any   way   possible   including   the arrangement  of  transportation,  child  care, 5-10