Publication year
2013
Citation Title
Considering child care and parenting needs in Veterans Affairs mental health services.
Journal Name
Evaluation and Program Planning
Journal Volume
39
Issue Number
NULL
Page Numbers
19-22
DOI
10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2013.03.003
Summary
Lack of child care may be a major barrier for some military parents seeking mental health services through the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system.Veterans seeking outpatient mental health services were surveyed regarding their parenting and child care needs. Most Veterans, both men and women, felt that provision of on-site child care services at the VA would be useful, that they would use child care services if they were available, and that lack of child care was a major barrier for Veterans seeking mental health services.
Key Findings
Both male and female Veterans expressed interest in on-site child care services at the VA and agreed that lack of child care was a barrier to accessing services for many Veterans.
Although Veterans expressed a strong desire for the VA to address parenting needs, they were less interested in attending parenting classes or support groups than having access to child care.
Many Veterans indicated that they would be relatively comfortable leaving their children with a VA volunteer while receiving care and services.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer military parents child care on-base while they recieve DoD or community mental health services
Disseminate community resource information regarding locations with high-quality, cost-effective child care for military families
Educate military parents about the effects of mental health concerns on parenting and the importance of receiving services for mental health concerns
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage military professionals to allow parents to bring children while accessing resources, if possible
Recommend collaboration between DoD programs and community child care programs to provide accessible, inexpensive child care to military parents
Promote education for professionals about potential barriers to seeking mental health care among military parents and ways to reduce those barriers
Methods
Veterans seeking outpatient mental health services at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System were invited to complete a survey while waiting for an appointment or during patient lunches.
Veterans completed survey questions about demographics, parent status, and for those who had children under the age of 18 years, about their experiences with VA support for child care and parenting needs.
Questions about experiences regarding VA support for parenting and child care were rated on 1 (never or strongly disagree) through 5 (always or strongly agree) scales, and the averages was calculated.
Participants
Participants included 147 Veterans (90% male); however, only 36 Veterans (69% male) reported having children and completed all survey questions.
Participating Veterans who were parents had an average age of 42.9 years (SD = 14.2) and were primarily White (53%) or Black (31%).
Most parents had one (40%) or two (37%) children, who had an average age of 9.2 years (SD = 5.7).
Limitations
Since Veterans were a treatment-seeking sample, those for whom lack of child care was a barrier to seeking treatment were not included; therefore, results may have underestimated the need for child care.
Of Veterans who were parents, 31% did not complete the survey questions, and participants who completed the survey may have differed from those who did not.
The sample size was small and restricted to one area of the country; thus, results may not generalizable to all Veterans.
Results are difficult to interpret given the items were all measured on 5-point scales and resulted in answers with very little variability.
Avenues for Future Research
Investigate the feasibility, logistical challenges, and impact of offering on-site child care services at the VA
Examine the challenges to effective parenting for Service members living with mental health problems
Conduct an extensive survey, with a large, representative sample of Service members who utilize the VA, regarding what parenting and child care support military parents need
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Child care and parenting needs of adults with mental illness are of growing concern, especially among those seeking Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health services. One area of interest concerns the possible benefits that on-site child care could have for improving veterans’ access to VA mental health care. Child care programs are currently being piloted at the VA for the first time, although the need for them has not been evaluated. We conducted a brief survey of a convenience sample of 147 veterans (132 men, 15 women) seeking mental health care at outpatient clinics and/or at a psychiatric rehabilitation center at one VA. Participants were asked about their attitudes and experiences regarding child care and parenting support at the VA. Of the 52 (35.4%) participants who responded and had children under 18, the majority of both men and women surveyed agreed that the VA should offer child care services and that they would use child care services at the VA if it were available. These results are based on a small sample of participants, but they may contribute to ongoing discussion and efforts to develop “family-friendly” mental health services.
Abstract Document
Attach