FRA Survey on Military Child Care Programs

FRA Launches Survey of Military Child Care Programs

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) is conducting an online survey to determine how satisfied service members and their spouses are with military child care programs. The survey, found at FRA's Web site, asks Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard active duty and Reserve members and their families to rate accessibility and quality of care, as well as their awareness of various child care programs. FRA will share the results with decision-makers in the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, as well as elected officials on Capitol Hill.

"Affordable, quality child care is critically important to military readiness," explains Joe Barnes, FRA's national executive director. "Military child care programs score high marks for quality of care, but in FRA's interaction with Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, we're hearing some concerns about access to these programs. Access problems have also been referenced by senior enlisted leaders in their testimony before Congress. We're asking military families to share their experiences in order to improve awareness and accessibility, and maintain that high quality of care."

In addition to sharing survey results with lawmakers and military leaders, FRA also publishes the results in OnWatch, the Association's quarterly online publication that focuses on active duty and Reserve concerns. As a result of its survey on quality-of-life programs, FRA designated adequately funding military and veterans' health care programs as its top legislative priority for 2009. The most recent edition of OnWatch is available at www.fra.org/onwatch and highlights survey data and FRA's other initiatives to improve the quality of life for current and former enlisted personnel.

FRA is a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization representing the interests of current and former enlisted members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. In addition to its advocacy work on Capitol Hill in support of enlisted personnel, FRA aids its members with career issues by maintaining close relationships with government agencies and by educating lawmakers about the challenges facing those who serve in the armed forces. The Association also awards annual scholarships totaling more than $100,000, sponsors a national essay contest, and assists its members with disaster relief grants.