NCDMVA leads discussion on childcare issues affecting military families
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — On Thursday, the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NCDMVA) and Blue Star Families held the North Carolina Military Community Childcare Roundtable 2026.
The event was held at Fayetteville Technical Community College, and they discussed the challenges that military families face when it comes to childcare services.
According to the press release, the state is home to the fourth-largest military presence in the nation. There are more than 63,300 children of active-duty service members. 45% are 5 years old or younger and around 20,000 are between 6 and 11 years old.
At the roundtable, federal, state, and county agencies were brought together as well as community leaders, childcare providers, and parents to explore solutions.
“It truly takes a village to raise a child, and for our military families, that village must include strong cross-sector collaboration. When one person serves, the entire family serves—and that’s why we are committed to ensuring military children have access to quality childcare. By removing barriers to childcare, we support the well-being of families and strengthen the readiness and resilience of our force,” said NCDMVA Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette.
The event was part of the “Do Your Part” initiative. “Do Your Part calls on states and communities to step up for military families in meaningful ways, and North Carolina is showing what that effort truly looks like,” said Jennifer Akin, Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Blue Star Families and the White Oak Collaborative.
