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2019 Military Family Support Programming Survey Was Fielded Online from October 7, 2019 to November 11, 2019

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2019 Military Family Support Programming Survey Was Fielded Online from October 7, 2019 to November 11, 2019 MILITARY FAMILY + SUPPORT PROGRAMMING SURVEY 2019 RESULTS Presented By: 1 About the Military Family Advisory Network The Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) was founded in 2013 to fill a persisting gap in the military community: the inability to quickly and effectively understand the modern military family and connect military families to the resources they need to thrive. Since its inception, MFAN has taken a data-driven approach to decision-making. Its Military Family Support Programming Survey has been the cornerstone of its research portfolio, providing deep insight into the support needs of families living military lives. MFAN shares this research with others so that it is actionable—it leads to data-informed programming from MFAN and others, ultimately yielding positive outcomes for military and veteran families. MFAN also uses its research to inform its own programming to serve military families. MilCentsSM is a self-guided financial education program that incorporates social learning to help military families achieve financial health. MilMapSM is a user-generated resource locator that provides families with access to resources as they travel to and settle in a new community. MilYouSM, the most recent addition, also incorporates social learning to strengthen military families’ physical health, emotional health, and relationships. To learn more, visit www.militaryfamilyadvisorynetwork.org II Sponsors Presenting Sponsor This survey would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors: III Table of Contents 01 Introduction 02 Methodology 03 Demographics 05 Part I: Health and Well-Being 06 Health Care 07 Satisfaction with Health Care 12 Telehealth 15 Mental Health Care 15 Satisfaction with Mental Health Care 18 Mental Health Crises 21 Suicidal Ideation 22 Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and Special Needs Program (SNP) 25 Caregiving 26 Support Programming for Caregivers and Recipients 31 Children of Caregivers 32 Food Insecurity 37 Alcohol Use Among Military Families 45 Community 49 Part II: Finances, Housing, and Moving 49 Financial Health of Military Families 53 Emergency Savings Fund Amount 55 Barriers To Saving 58 Current Debt 62 Student Loan Debt 64 Non-Bank Borrowing 74 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Awareness 75 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Use IV Table of Contents 76 Preferred Mode of Financial Support 78 Military Moves 79 Financial Impact of Moves 84 DITY Moves 85 Moving Support 88 Housing 89 Choices in Housing 95 Experiences in Privatized Military Housing 102 Part III: Employment and Transition 102 Employment 106 Employment Experiences 114 Employment Licensing 117 Entrepreneurship 121 Transition and Retirement 126 Military Retirement Plan Options 129 Transition Support 134 Part IV: Modern Military Families 134 Marriages and Family Relationships 143 Intimate Partner Violence 148 Military Children 149 Child Care 152 Military Children’s Education 159 LGBTQ+ 160 Perceptions of Support 162 Transgender Active Duty Service 168 Recommending Military Life 177 Next Steps and Recommendations V Research Team Shelley Kimball, Ph.D. As the senior director of research and program evaluation, Shelley Kimball gathers the real-life experiences of families connected to military life. MFAN then uses that data to develop programming and advise on policy that serves military families. She has presented MFAN’s research to the White House, on Capitol Hill, and at the Pentagon, where it has been used to shape policy affecting military families. Dr. Kimball has been a researcher for 20 years. She teaches qualitative research methods and media law at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Her husband retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after 28 years of service. Jennifer Hurwitz, Ph.D. A military spouse for more than 20 years, Jen Hurwitz is passionate about creating positive research-based change for military families. As the deputy director of research and program evaluation, Dr. Hurwitz leads efforts to continuously evaluate the impact of MFAN’s military family programming, ensuring it remains responsive to current needs, in addition to supporting the planning, execution, and reporting of the organization’s research. Hurwitz holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is a nationally certified speech-language pathologist and teaches workplace and information ethics at the University of Louisville. With Assistance From Cynthia Terry McKenna Wirth VI Introduction The Military Family Advisory Network’s (MFAN) mission is to work collaboratively to improve the lives of military and veteran families and shorten the amount of time between the identification of an issue and the deployment of a solution. Collecting and sharing data is one of the most effective ways to do that. At its inception, MFAN determined that understanding the lived experiences of these families was essential to determining the best path toward measurable impact, not just for the organization, but for the whole community. This iteration of the Military Family Support Programming survey is unique. Because there was a wealth of data collected, and because it is possible through the use of cutting-edge software to dive even more deeply into participants’ responses, the data will be presented in four sections: I. Health and well-being: In this first section, MFAN will tell the story of health care and mental health and how families are using services. II. Finances and homes: Finances, moving, and housing are issues that affect all aspects of military family life. III. Employment and transition: This segment will tackle employment, entrepreneurship, and leaving military service. IV. Modern military families: This section will explore the current state of military family dynamics. While many of the questions are consistent with those MFAN has explored in previous research, new to this year’s survey are sections on mental health crises, suicide, alcohol use, and intimate partner violence. Also new this year is a deeper look at the incidences of food insecurity among active duty families, veterans, and retirees by applying the USDA’s 6-item Short Form Food Security Scale. This survey also employed the UCLA Loneliness Scale to better understand feelings of isolation among military families. 01 Methodology MFAN’s research is primarily qualitative or open-ended, which generates data that are rich with perspective and experiences and provide a greater diversity of topics to understand and evaluate. Quantitative questions, such as multiple choice, are used as a navigation system to ensure that participants receive only the questions relevant to them. While these quantitative questions supply valuable data, the qualitative data are the heart of the research. MFAN’s research goals are to offer deeper context. While quantitative data can explain the “what,” qualitative data can explain the “why” and “how.” Some researchers may avoid relying heavily on open-ended responses because of the time and effort required to analyze them, but MFAN has established a systematic method for analysis. Because MFAN conducts and analyzes its data in-house, it has the agility to conduct intermittent surveys when needs present. The data are analyzed with Qualtrics Survey Software, cutting-edge software that allows not only methodologically sound qualitative coding, but also comparisons with other data within the sets. MFAN’s coding team reads every written response submitted to every question and tags each one with themes and subthemes. Then, the team evaluates all of those themes to explain what military families are experiencing. The software also allows those themes to be sorted by demographics and geographics, among many other potential measures. After the analysis is complete, the research team uses the results to tell the stories of military families. The data is arranged in percentages and charts to explain the most common themes and ideas families communicated in their responses. These manifest effect sizes show the tabulated themes – they won’t add up to 100% because responses may include more than one theme. Military families are more than numbers and statistics, so the data is highlighted with the real comments and experiences participants shared. All of MFAN’s research ensures that participants are connected to military family life – it is a condition they must meet to take the surveys. When MFAN invites participants to share their thoughts in its research, it often uses a sampling technique in which participants invite others 02 who are also connected to military life to join in. Invitations to participate are also sent out through social media and through many partners in the military family space who are hoping to learn from the data. This ensures the participants come from every service branch, every rank, and from a variety of geographic locations. The results are not meant to predict behaviors or perceptions of all military families. Instead, this form of research helps shed light on what military families are currently experiencing. MFAN’s research explores new, emergent, and perennial needs of those who participate. Some questions have been asked each year, providing valuable longitudinal information. Other questions are new. New questions are designed to explore topics discussed in our network, primarily through the MFAN advisory board. These data provide a holistic look at support programming that families most appreciate and where they have found it. The survey findings also explain where there may be gaps in coverage and how families prefer to receive support. In full, the information shared in these results guides and informs a path toward developing solutions in the areas of greatest need. Demographics The 2019 Military Family Support Programming Survey was fielded online from October 7, 2019 to November 11, 2019. During that time, 7,785 people participated. Branches of Service The proportion of respondents from each branch of service aligns with the currently serving force. 45.4% 20.1% 19.8% 11.1% 3.5% Army Air Force Navy Marine Corps Coast Guard 03 Connection to Military Life The survey required a connection to military life as a condition of completion.
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