National poll finds strong bipartisan support for the federal government to do more for military families facing child care challenges
Washington, D.C. — A new national survey in partnership with Blue Star Families and Engage reveals sweeping bipartisan support for increased federal assistance to military families navigating frequent relocation and employment disruption.
Among key findings:
- 93% agree the federal government should provide child care support for military families who are required to relocate often due to their service.
- 91% agree the government should offer specific childcare stipends to military spouses seeking work after a move due to their spouse’s service.
Inspired by the bipartisan collaboration of Senator Katie Britt and Senator Tim Kaine, Engage commissioned the poll to understand views on childcare solutions; Blue Star Families sought to better understand views specific to child care for military families. The results confirm what military families have long known — and what national leaders can no longer ignore: Child care is not just a personal concern. It’s a matter of economic stability, national readiness, and support for the All-Volunteer Force.
“These numbers confirm what we’ve long known — military families need child care solutions. Child care is an important part of family readiness, which is a critical part of mission readiness,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “When child care fails, everything else — spouse careers, family finances, service member focus — begins to break down.”
A Call to Action
According to Blue Star Families’ 2024 Military Family Lifestyle Survey:
- 70% of active-duty spouses say they need child care in order to work.
- Among unemployed spouses who need child care to work, 64% cite the high cost of child care as the primary reason they are not employed.
- 43% say child care is unavailable or has unreasonably long waitlists.
While the Department of Defense has expanded access through Child Development Centers (CDCs) and the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program, only a fraction of families benefit:
- Just 21% of military families who need care use CDCs, and only 6% use FCC (Family Child Care) homes.
- Only 12% use available fee assistance programs – often due to geographic limitations or red tape.
Advocacy in Action
In response to these findings, Blue Star Families is urging policymakers to advance several urgent solutions in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ease the child care burden on military families:
- Expand fee assistance to include in-home child care providers
- Establish a federal carve-out for remote work eligibility for military spouses
Beyond legislative action, Blue Star Families continues to champion the 4+1 Commitment – a national pledge encouraging employers to support military spouses through job portability, flexible schedules, remote work options, and paid leave during Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves.
“We already have the tools,” said Roth-Douquet. “What we need now is the commitment to act. Child care isn’t a perk for military families — it’s mission-critical infrastructure.”
###
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A “blue star family” is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts. For more information, click here.
Media Contact
Media Relations
(844) 202-7827, ext. 4
[email protected]
Posted In: Press
Share this post: