| Many organizations struggle to increase engagement in their organizations. In the Family Support Center (FSC), the assumption is that the lack of utilization of services by non-American spouses of military personnel affects the FSC's ability to fulfill its mission to provide essential services to military families. All active-duty military members are required to complete the Information Data Sheet upon arrival at the new duty station. The form asks for the active-duty spouse's name, gender, and nationality. The Information Data Sheet revealed that in 2010, the FSC registered 345 spouses (FSC, 2010). Of this number, 225 were American spouses and 120 were non-American spouses. Approximately 15 of these non-American spouses returned to FSC to utilize the services. In 2011, FSC registered 380 spouses, including 235 American spouses and 145 non-American spouses; of the non-American spouses, only 11 returned for services (FSC, 2011). In 2012, FSC registered 353 spouses. Of this number, 222 were American spouses and 131 were non-American spouses; of the latter group, only 13 returned for services (FSC, 2012). From January 1 through June 30, 2014, FSC registered 105 spouses, of which 63 were American spouses and 42 were non-American spouses (FSC, 2014). Of the total number of non-American spouses registered for 2014, only six returned for services. The action research conducted in this study created a Family Readiness Day to welcome non-American spouses to the FSC and inform them about available services. The study then evaluated the impact of the program on these spouses using the FSC and showed a marginally significant increase in the likelihood that participants would use the FSC more often. |
