Newsroom & Press Releases
USA Cares Jobs for Vets
Child Care Assistance Grant:
Though today’s job market is tough for everyone to navigate and land the next big thing, military spouses have struggled with securing employment long before the market “tanked.” A Department of Defense study released in June 2011 estimated that 26% of military spouses were unemployed. This is triple the current civilian unemployment rate and more than double the rate of Post 9/11 Veteran’s.
There are about 1.2 million military spouses, of which about 85 % want to work. Of that fragment, it is estimated about 265,000 are either unemployed or underemployed with a wage gap of about 25 % between military spouses and their civilian counterparts.
Moving as a unit every two to three years for stability and readiness for their soldier brings an ongoing fight of battling negative stigmas from employers. In military communities, it is well known that frequent moves and the cost of child care play a major role in the efforts of spouses securing employment.
The challenge: Provide an opportunity to those spouses who show a commitment and ability to adapt to new environments by removing employment barriers such as childcare start up costs and giving them access to “military friendly” employers. Spouses should be viewed as an asset to an employer, not a risk.
In an effort to “give a hand up,” USA Cares is broadening its current Jobs for Vets program to include financial assistance for spouses who have found success in obtaining employment. USA Cares now assures military spouses do not have the obstruction of child care cost preventing them from their next career.
Qualifications:
• Active duty military spouse
• Current spouse of a honorably discharged veteran
• Must have secured new employment
• Must show a demonstrated need for child care assistance
Employment Assistance Grants:
USA Cares Jobs for Veterans program will provide qualifying military families a financial assistance grant paid to a licensed child care facility. The grant will support the military family from two to four weeks, pending future salary and pay schedule.
Employment & Training Referral/Advocacy Support:
USA Cares will continue its outreach to government, private/public, and nonprofit organizations to increase awareness of this unique grant to support and directly affect change of those military spouses who have served our country too.
