The military lifestyle offers multiple positive opportunities for families, but there can be a few hardships as well, particularly when it comes to finding work. A quarter of the 1.2 million military spouses are unemployed, a rate triple their civilian counterparts. It is not a lack of desire for employment that stops spouses from working - many military spouses want to work, but can't. There are many reasons, including constant moving, the inability to build a career and lack of job opportunities. But the largest factor for many military spouses is finding affordable childcare. Often, after weighing the cost of childcare against the salary offered, a military spouse becomes discouraged. For many, it is simply not worth working if every penny will be spent in childcare and gas costs.

USA Cares, an organization that offers free services to Servicemembers and their families, recently announced the creation of a new grant. The "Child Care Assistance Grant" helps active duty spouses (or spouses of honorably discharged veterans) who have obtained employment and need help with childcare expenses. If qualified, a military spouse can go back to work and pursue a career without worrying about the cost of childcare. To apply, visit https://www.tfaforms.com/178525.

Along with the Child Care Assistance Grant, USA Cares also offers Employment Assistance Grants. The Employment Assistance Grant provides qualified military families with a temporary (two to four week) financial grant to pay for a licensed childcare facility while the spouse awaits his or her first paycheck.  This allows spouses to be able to start work without worrying about choosing between childcare and groceries during the beginning of employment.

Both of the grants are put into place to allow a hand up, not a hand out, to military spouses. USA Cares never requires a military family to repay the grants and helps all ranks and all services of Post 9-11 veterans and active duty military. For more information visit  www.usacares.org.