Access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality childcare remains a critical challenge for both military and civilian families. Provider shortages, rising costs, workforce instability, and limited access continue to affect family well-being and military readiness. This 90-minute multidisciplinary webinar explores how these challenges intersect with employment barriers faced by military spouses. The session offers current data, foundational knowledge, practical strategies, and real-world case analysis to help professionals expand childcare access, support military spouse workforce participation, and advance overall family readiness. Designed for professionals working across military, education, child development, workforce systems, health, and community orgainzations, this session offers practical tools and cross-sector solutions to better support military-connected families.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe at least three current data points related to the national childcare shortage and affordability trends affecting civilian and military families.
- Explain the relationship between childcare access and military spouse employment outcomes, including at least two systemic barriers to workforce participation.
- Identify at least three War Department childcare programs or fee assistance options and summarize the basic enrollment pathway through MilitaryChildCare.com.
- List at least five indicators of high-quality, inclusive childcare environments, including one indicator specific to children with disabilities.
- Explore how partnerships and community-based child care programs increase access and well-being for military families.
- Analyze a cross-sector partnership by explaining a policy solution to address childcare and employment barriers.
