Research Questions What resources exist to help Army spouses and their families, and what are spouses' experiences in navigating these resources? Do spouses' experiences vary across garrisons and according to the connections that Army spouses make with each other and the Army community as a whole? How can spouses’ connections with each other and the community foster better resource navigation and more effective resource use? What can be done to improve spouses' experiences with resource navigation?
The U.S. Army provides many resources to help soldiers and their families cope with major life events associated with Army service, such as moves associated with new assignments or deployments, as well as resources that can help meet the daily needs of military families. These resources are available to all Army families, and they are administered at the local level through community-based services or Army garrisons, but families can have difficulties finding and accessing those resources.
The authors examine the experiences of Army spouses in navigating the resource system to find the help they need. Because the Army community can serve an important role for Army families, the authors focus on whether these experiences vary across garrisons and according to the connections that spouses make with each other and the Army community as a whole, as well as how these connections foster better resource navigation and resource use.
Through previously collected survey data and recent qualitative interviews, the authors explore the experiences of Army spouses in navigating the resources available to them, thereby illuminating the challenges that many spouses face. The authors note that spouses typically learn about resources through word-of-mouth recommendations from other Army spouses rather than through program outreach efforts, and they suggest that the Army could do more to both get the word out about available assistance resources and highlight the "one-stop shopping" features of existing but underutilized resources, such as Army Community Service and Military OneSource.
Key Findings Army spouses' experiences across garrisons are similar when it comes to navigating available resources. Spouses experience challenges when navigating resources, and some experience getting "bounced around." Spouses desire a "one-stop shop" that serves the function of providing an entryway to resources. Army spouses learn about the resources available to them most frequently from other Army spouses, whether through social media or in person. Spouses identify Army Community Service (ACS) and Army Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) as programs with positive reputations. Connections with other spouses are helpful for a range of reasons: as social connections, guides to military life and culture, sources of information about available resources or services, and useful entry points when arriving at a new location. Connection offers an opportunity to alleviate the challenges of military life, but not all Army spouses want greater connection: Some report being too busy with other commitments to want or need a higher level of engagement with the Army community.
Recommendations Leverage Soldier and Family Readiness Groups as a means of informing spouses of available resources; these groups should continue to provide a venue for connection with the Army community when such connection is desired. Provide welcome sessions, ideally conducted in person, specifically for spouses who have recently moved to a garrison. Develop a website where spouses can follow up on resources described during an initial welcome session. Consider incorporating formal, interactive online activities providing connection and social support to Army spouses, such as moderated online forums specifically for those seeking help. Use such resources as ACS and MWR as avenues to provide spouses with information on the range of problem-solving programs available to them. Increase the prominence of Military OneSource as a guide to finding local resources, and make it easier to use for that purpose. Develop more consistency across garrison homepages with regard to information about services. Optimize Army or other military web-based resources so that spouses using a general search engine (e.g., Google) to search for resources are likely to be connected with appropriate Army resources. Ensure that warm handoffs between programs are standard rather than the exception.
Table of Contents Chapter One
Introduction
Chapter Two
The Mixed-Methods Approach
Chapter Three
Analysis of the Problem-Solving Process and Unmet Needs
Chapter Four
Resource Reputation and Suggestions for Improvement
Chapter Five
Spouse Well-Being and Connections with the Army Community
Chapter Six
Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix A
Additional Survey Data Results
Appendix B
Army Spouse Invitation, Informed Consent, and Interview Protocol
Appendix C
Additional Interview Participant Information and Qualitative Analysis Coding Guide
Research conducted by RAND Army Research Division
The research described in this report was sponsored by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, U.S. Army and conducted by the Personnel, Training, and Health Program within the RAND Arroyo Center.
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