Blue Star Families, the nation’s largest community-based organization supporting military and veteran families, has opened its annual survey to find out what issues are most important to those groups.

It’s the 14th annual survey of its kind, Blue Star Families’ National Manager of Storytelling Adriene Engstrom told On Base. The data Blue Star Families collects is used by lawmakers, senior DOD leaders, military and veteran service organizations, installations, and communities.

The 2022 survey, for example, reported that 72% of employed active duty spouses need some form of child care, but only 38% said they are able to find child care that worked for their current situation.

This year’s survey also includes topics like well-being, recruitment and retention, and how subjects such as health care, outdoor activity and social ties affect families’ health and thriving, Engstrom said.

Blue Star Families photo