{"id":96141,"date":"2019-04-12T10:30:49","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T14:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=96141"},"modified":"2019-04-11T10:44:24","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T14:44:24","slug":"opening-doors-federal-government-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/opening-doors-federal-government-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Opening Doors During the Federal Government Shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

It does not take an economics major to understand the effect that one missed paycheck can have on an individual or a family. It means mortgages may not be paid. Basic utility bills could be overdue. And a simple pizza night would be considered a luxury.<\/p>\n

Many of these situations were a reality for nearly 800,000 governmental employees and their families during the federal government shutdown from Dec. 22 to Jan. 25.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I didn\u2019t \u2014 or if somebody didn\u2019t \u2014 do something right away, we were going to have some families that were in a lot of trouble.\u201d \u2013 Jessica Manfre, UCF Online student<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jessica Manfre, a Masters of Social Work online<\/a> student, experienced the effects of the shutdown firsthand at the U.S. Coast Guard\u2019s Training Center Cape May in New Jersey. As the wife of a Senior Chief of the Coast Guard Scott Manfre, Manfre has been a part of a nonprofit organization called, Jersey Cape Military Spouses Club, which allowed her to assist families in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched the political climate. I just knew that [the shutdown] was going to continue and we were going to miss paychecks. And if I didn\u2019t \u2014 or if somebody didn\u2019t \u2014 do something right away, we were going to have some families that were in a lot of trouble,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

As a result of her work helping others, Manfre recently was named the Armed Forces Insurance\u2019s Coast Guard Spouse of the Year and will be considered for the Military Spouse of the Year Award to be announced May 9 in Washington. She is nominated with spouses from the other branches of the military \u2014 Air Force, Army, Marines, National Guard and Navy.<\/p>\n

As a student, mother and military spouse, Manfre said her passion is helping military families gain access to mental health resources, especially for veterans who are affected by substance-use disorders.<\/p>\n