Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University
Manuals and Workbooks
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University
Manuals and Workbooks
Table of Contents
Here, I have selected a few pages from the Department of Defense & Family Advocacy Program Staffing Tool Instruction Manual that I worked on in 2025. I led the design for this 200-page Staffing Tool Instruction Manual from intake to final delivery.
This document includes text variables, a master page design, a custom table design, data charts, an interactive table of contents, and 508 accessibility checks and settings. The final documents were exported as a single manual and as individual manuals for all 4 military branches. Below are a few sample pages from each manual and guide. Per DoD policy, only a limited number of pages are shared.
Here, I have selected a few pages from the Adoption: Creating your Family Thrive module documents that I worked on as the key designer in 2025 through 2026.
First, a few pages from the manual that trained facilitators will use to guide their families through the module online, in-person, or both. These manuals are usually about 150 pages, and I have laid out 13 Thrive module manuals.
Second, the Parent and Caregiver Workbooks can then be assigned as homework throughout the module. There are two versions of these 30-40 page workbooks: an Extension version and a Stand-Alone version. So for each supplemental module I complete 2 workbooks on top of the manual.
This is just one example of several sets of Manuals and Workbooks designed, enhanced with interactivity, and exported with accessibility features for the Thrive Project.
You can view the live page where these resources live here: thrive.psu.edu/hybrid-implementation/adoption/.
The Army Relocation Readiness Program manuals were designed from the ground up for Army staff to facilitate the relocation process for incoming and transitioning soldiers and their families. Working from raw text provided by the Clearinghouse team, I developed the full visual identity for the program, including the color palette, typography, and branding, before laying out three publications totaling over 200 pages. The Staff Training Manual runs 118 pages and was built entirely in Microsoft Word, so installations can add to the manual as needed. The Postmove Newcomer Orientation Manual and RRP Activity Guide are each approximately 50 pages and were designed as fully fillable, interactive documents in InDesign, providing facilitators with polished, functional tools they can use directly with families in the field. Below are a few sample pages from each manual and guide. Per DoD policy, only a limited number of pages are shared here.
The Thrive team requested an index of Take Root Home Visitation resources. This Resource Guide was created to help home visitors understand, select, and use the resources available to their families. From the initial request through to final delivery, I designed this guide using the team-provided Word documents, working within Take Root Home Visitation's existing branding. This is 16 pages of tables designed for quick scanning on home visits. Even though it is designed for print, it is fully set up as an accessible PDF with bookmarks, good color contrast, type size, and the reading order double-checked. Here are a few pages from that booklet.
Please Note: The work contained in this portfolio was produced for federally funded programs through the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. Due to DoD restrictions, some of these materials are not publicly available. This portfolio is shared for review purposes only and is not to be copied, distributed, or shared without express permission.