Community Assessment Survey to measure needs of Airmen, families Published April 25, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- The Air Force has proven it's a service branch that takes care of its own. The 2008 Community Assessment Survey, a computer-based survey that measures the needs of active-duty Airmen, reservists, Department of Defense civilians, and military spouses, will go online Tuesday in an effort to get feedback on how the Air Force can better care for its people. The online survey will be available through June 30. Maj. Wendy Travis, Mental Health Flight commander in the 78th Medical Group is the Robins point of contact for the survey. She said the community assessment, which has been conducted every two to three years since its establishment in the late 1980s, is an Air Force-wide initiative to gather information about what communities need and how the Air Force can enhance the wellbeing of the community. "The survey collects information from community members through a randomized means," she said. "It collects information about the needs of servicemembers, spouses, their families, and allows them to express their opinions about what might be going on in the community openly and honestly." Active-duty military, reservists, and Air Force Materiel Command civilians are subject to random selection for taking the survey. Military spouses are encouraged to participate as well, Major Travis said. Christine Parker, Airman and Family Readiness Flight chief, said spouses of active-duty military will receive postcards and/or e-mails about the survey. "Your invitation will include an access code and a date," she said. "When you receive that information, please take the time to visit the Web site provided and Mrs. Parker said spouses can take the online survey at A&FRC's Discovery Center in Bldg. 794. Major Travis said the assessment has a broad focus and addresses different factors, like personal and family adjustments and community wellbeing. In addition, the survey will address some secretive problems including alcohol and drug use, abuse of all kinds, and suicidal behaviors. "We want to be able to address some of these issues as well, but people don't tend to talk about them openly, so this is a great opportunity if people are struggling with some of these secretive behaviors," she said. The survey's feedback will be used to make improvements at the base of participants, Major Travis said. "Survey results will be aggregated and summarized for each base," she said. "The Integrated Delivery System will receive the results and will review the needs of the community. Based on the needs of that survey, we develop a plan to address those needs in the future." Julie Hawkins, chief of the Family Members Flight within the 78th Mission Support Group's Services Division who is also the IDS chairperson at Robins Air Force Base, said the survey is people's chance to voice their concerns at the Air Force-level. "If you want your voice to be heard, this is the way to do it," she said. Mrs. Parker said the survey gives spouses a chance to make a difference. "Through the completion of the community assessment, survey response can directly influence family services and related support activities at bases and throughout the Air Force," she said. She said results from previous Air Force Community Assessments have impacted the policies and programs that support spouses at every level of the Air Force. These include adjusting childcare and other support services to better match the needs of the community, increasing opportunities to socialize and participate in on and off-base activities, increasing spouse-to-spouse support, especially during times when the servicemember is deployed or on temporary duty, and increasing job opportunities for Air Force spouses. Major Travis said some of the programs that have been developed through the survey at other bases in the past include financial counseling, support networks for single parents, and marriage support seminars. Major Travis said all Air Force community members randomly chosen service wide may complete the survey. Mrs. Parker said people's past participation in the survey has proven beneficial. "From the 2006 survey, we know that communication with one's deployed service member is the most important thing to help families cope with deployments," she said. "Making communication easy and low cost is a top priority. The Air Force has worked to reduce the phone rates, and have provided Internet services in A&FRCs, recreation centers, libraries, and youth centers to help families stay connected." Major Travis said the survey gives people the chance to be heard without repercussion. "It's a wonderful opportunity to improve the Air Force community," she said. "I just hope that everyone selected to take the survey will do everything they can to respond to the survey. I encourage all spouses to log in and complete the survey (as well)." The major said the rumor that Robins was targeted for the 2008 Community Assessment Survey due to its "problems" is "absolutely untrue."