Source: AUBURN UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
MILITARY REACH
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1027233
Grant No.
2021-48710-35671
Cumulative Award Amt.
$2,918,365.00
Proposal No.
2021-07452
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[REACH]- Military REACH
Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849
Performing Department
Human Dvlpmnt & Family Science
Non Technical Summary
Family life plays a vital role in Service members' personal readiness and, consequently, mission readiness (DoDI 1342.22; Parcell & Maguire, 2014); thus, it is critical for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to be on the frontier of knowledge acquisition regarding the well-being of military families to make evidence-based decisions that meet the current needs of Service members and their families. Accordingly, the purpose of Military REACH (referred to as REACH to represent the intersection of REsearch and OutreACH) is to support DoD and, in turn, military families by (1) translating empirical research focused on military family life into practical products (e.g., reports, fact sheets, annotated bibliographies) and (2) ensuring that these user-friendly products are accessible to stakeholders who serve and work on behalf of military families. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, policymakers, helping professionals, and military leadership. This mission aligns with the FY 2018-22 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Strategic Plan, specifically Goal 4, Objective 4.2, to expand opportunity and rural quality of life with access to resources, as well as the 2008 Farm Bill that commissioned the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to enhance human sciences and improve the well-being of Americans, including the ~2.1 million men and women who serve in the military and their 2.6 million family members (DoD, 2020).Since 2017, when our Auburn University (AU) team was awarded the competitive REACH grant, we have worked collaboratively alongside DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) and NIFA to critically evaluate military family research and generate practical implications and tools for stakeholders across the spectrum of family support and readiness. Our interdisciplinary team's innovative approach to REACH continues to emphasize translational science and research dissemination and harness the expertise of family scientists, clinicians, developmentalists, and evaluation scientists, as well as librarians, IT specialists, and web developers. In addition to our deep grasp of military family research both as authors contributing to this field and as consumers of this research, our team understands the current needs of military families and the needs of our partners, MC&FP and NIFA. Furthermore, our evaluation data demonstrate the long-term impact of our team'swork; REACH products have regularly been used to inform policy and enhance the military cultural competence of those serving military families.Statement of Need. The health of the family system is tied to Service member readiness and the family's ability to adapt to stress (Oshri, et al., 2015). Military families are, first and foremost, families who face normative stressors in the context of family life, including marital strains, parenting difficulties, and health challenges (Lucier-Greer et al., 2020; O'Neal et al., 2016). They also encounter circumstantial stressors related to military life (e.g., deployment, relocations); chronic military-related stressors lead to heightened risk for mental health concerns, unstable family functioning, and social isolation (Lucier-Greer et al., 2014; O'Neal & Mancini, 2020) as well as differential and sometimes limiting opportunities for military spouses (e.g., underemployment, lower pay; Burke & Miller, 2018; Meadows et al., 2016) and children (e.g., school transitions, changes in peer groups; Bradshaw et al., 2010). Nonetheless, empirical evidence, including our own, consistently demonstrates that military families tend to be high functioning and resilient (O'Neal et al., 2016). Military families' outcomes are often contingent on available resources and whether formal systems (e.g., policy-generating offices) and informal supports meet their needs (Mancini, O'Neal, & Lucier-Greer, 2020). Unfortunately, it can take ~17 years for formal systems and professionals to have access to and integrate "current" research into their decision making and services (Morris et al., 2011; Munro et al., 2016). To address this serious issue, REACH facilitates timely access to research related to family support and readiness and systematically disseminates this research to lay and professional stakeholders in easily understood, action-oriented formats.Audiences to be Served. To facilitate the DoD's provision of high-quality support to military families, it is essential that the DoD and those who serve and work on behalf of military families (e.g., policymakers, helping professionals, and military leadership) have ongoing access to long-standing and current military family research via an easily accessible digital research repository (i.e., online library).Goals/Objectives. The goal of REACH is to support military family well-being by facilitating timely access to research and systematically disseminating that research to stakeholders in formats that are easily understood and actionable. This goal will be achieved through the following objectives that align with program priorities:Objective 1 - Research: Deliver timely, high-quality research reports at the request of the DoD. Our team is equipped to provide comprehensive research reports and research summaries of newly published military family science articles that highlight research implications in a time-efficient manner.Objective 2 - Outreach: Enhance access to research by maintaining and marketing a growing web-based repository (i.e., online library) of research related to military family well-being. Our team created and will continue to develop and promote our publicly accessible REACH library, which houses 3,100+ articles. Research summaries accompany articles that are particularly relevant for military family life, and guides to help users understand academic literature and terminology are also provided.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
8026020307050%
8066099302050%
Knowledge Area
806 - Youth Development; 802 - Human Development and Family Well-Being;

Subject Of Investigation
6020 - The family and its members; 6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3070 - Psychology; 3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of Military REACH is to support military family well-being by facilitating timely access to research and systematically disseminating that research to stakeholders(e.g., policymakers, helping professionals, and military leadership)in formats that are easily understood and actionable. This goal will be achieved through the following objectives that align with program priorities:Objective 1 - Research: Deliver timely, high-quality research reports at the request of the DoD. Our team is equipped to provide comprehensive research reports and research summaries of newly published military family science articles that highlight research implications in a time-efficient manner.Objective 2 - Outreach: Enhance access to research by maintaining and marketing a growing web-based repository (i.e., online library) of research related to military family well-being. Our team created and will continue to develop and promote our publicly accessible REACH library, which houses 3,100+ articles. Research summaries accompany articles that are particularly relevant for military family life, and guides to help users understand academic literature and terminology are also provided.
Project Methods
Objective 1 [Research] Action Plan.Research Reports. Our writing process includes six steps developed based on knowledge gained from previous project years. Turnaround time ranges from 4 to 16 weeks (average ~9 weeks), depending on the extensiveness of the report and the time required to receive feedback from the point of contact (POC).Acknowledge request. Within 1 day, the PI acknowledges receiving the request and arranges a phone call with the POC to clarify needs.Determine course of action. The PI and Research Team lead determine the scope of work, necessary resources, and personnel needed.Mobilize Research Team for initial draft. Members of the Research Team conduct a literature review and draft a report outline, typically within 4 weeks. The outline is sent to the POC for feedback.Implement feedback. The team integrates feedback from the POC into the report. The action-oriented report is finalized, typically within 60-75 days, and reviewed by a professional copy editor.Provide briefing package. A professionally produced briefing package that includes the final report and executive summary is submitted to the POC. A PowerPoint presentation is drafted, if needed.Disseminate key products. When applicable, the research report is posted on the REACH website in the online library and social media (see Objective 2 - Outreach for more detail).Research Summaries. With the support of the AU Libraries and the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department, we apply artificial intelligence tools to continuously scan the literature and identify newly published studies in real time. Relevant studies are summarized by our Research Team into brief, two-page reports called Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) reports. TRIP reports provide an overview of the study's key findings and methodology, a synthesis of practical implications, and an evaluation of the study's merits. TRIP reports are designed to enhance awareness of research and encourage evidence-based practice and research-informed decision making. To enhance application and ensure the accessibility of information to both lay and professional users, TRIP reports include links to resources (e.g., relevant military policies, programs) and terms in our REACH online dictionary. We are on track to create 144 TRIP reports per project year (12/month), which enables us to report on a wide range of military family articles while also allowing our team the necessary time to analyze the studies and maintain high standards for TRIP report content.In FY20, to advance our efforts in research and outreach, our web developers created a REACH mobile application (app) for the dissemination of TRIP reports. It is free and available on Google Play and in the App Store. The first round of app development focused on user testing and empirically examining the app as a tool for enhancing military knowledge among helping professionals in response to research suggesting that only 14% of providers have sufficient military cultural competence (Tanielian et al., 2014). The app can be personalized; users select the type of military family research they wish to see (e.g., information about couple relationships, children in military families) and when they receive notices. Helping professionals also receive 4 continuing education units (CEUs) when they read and engage with 16 TRIP reports on the app. Refinement of the app and dissemination to more stakeholders will continue in the next project year.Evaluation and quality assurance for Objective 1. Our team will continue to track the number of research reports created and time required to deliver the briefing packages. We also request feedback from report POCs to understand what went well and what processes could be enhanced to continually improve our report process and product. To date, POCs have consistently appreciated the thorough and application-focused approach of our team and the expedited turnaround time.For TRIP reports, we monitor the number of TRIP reports generated and often solicit feedback regarding the accuracy of the TRIP reports from authors whose work we are evaluating. To date, we have obtained quantitative and qualitative feedback from 21 scholars on the TRIP reports created from their research. All authors "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that our summary of their research was accurate and well-written. They also provided ideas on further developing our implications. We continue to incorporate author feedback to continually improve our TRIP report process and, in turn, produce the highest quality product.To evaluate the efficacy of the TRIP reports and speak to intermediate and long-term outcomes of our work , we developed a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial (RCT). As part of the study, we are examining how users' systematic review of military family research summaries - specifically, two TRIP reports per week for 8 weeks delivered via the REACH mobile app - is associated with enhanced research literacy, knowledge of military families, and confidence serving military families. The current study is focused on helping professionals and mental health providers. Objective 2 [Outreach] Action Plan.Sustain and enhance the REACH website and library. The REACH website, which experienced a 30% increase in hits in FY20 and has reached 11,000+ unique users, is housed on a virtual hosting environment serviced by AU's Office of Information Technology. As part of the website, our digital library preserves research related to military family well-being.Priority is placed on ensuring website responsivity and security, meeting accessibility standards, and indexing our website so that search engines (e.g., Google) can accurately index the library content. Continued enhancements to the website scheduled for FY21 include improving the site's search features through artificial intelligence and machine learning tools (e.g., the IBM Watson suite of services) to enable natural language queries. Users will be able to ask questions, e.g., "What stressors do families face during deployments?," and the search results will access articles and reports within the library to provide an answer (when enough information is available) in addition to a list of articles and reports related to deployments and families.Ensure that REACH materials are visible and accessible. Developing reports and tools from military family research must be accompanied by strategic outreach plans to disseminate these products. We were the first REACH team to utilize social media and monthly electronic newsletters to engage and educate stakeholders on developments in military family science, and we continue to expand our offerings, including adding op-eds, family focus stories, and featured news articles to our newsletters. With 2,100+ social media followers and 42 outreach events and trainings (e.g., conferences, community meetings) that have reached more than 100,000 individuals, we have an established following of researchers and research organizations (e.g., National Council on Family Relations), Service members and families, and military family programs (e.g., Military Saves, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program). Continued outreach efforts include regular social media posts, monthly newsletters, and presentations at research meetings and military events (e.g., a standing invitation at Maxwell AFB to brief new staff at Airman and Family Readiness Centers from across the world and encourage them to use research and evidence-based practices in their work).Evaluation and quality assurance for Objective 2. We will continue to track the growth of the library, including the number of new holdings, and monitor the usage of the library and the website more generally. With Google Analytics, we track usage throughout the year and identify spikes following outreach efforts.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audiences include those who serve military families (e.g., direct service helping professionals), those who work on behalf of military families (e.g., policymakers in the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy, researchers), military leadership, and military families themselves. The primary efforts of Military REACH are to make military family science research practical and accessible to facilitate the Department of Defense's (DoD) provision of high-quality support to military families. Our team critically evaluates and synthesizes empirical research that speaks to issues of family support, resilience, and readiness. We identify meaningful trends and practical applications of that research, and then deliver research summaries and action-oriented implications to these target audiences. Additionally, by hosting an online library of military family science research, our outreach efforts and the development of our Military REACH products also serve a need among family science researchers. Changes/Problems:Being based at a university, it is typical to expect a semi-regular turnover of staff and students. This project year we experienced staff turnover, primarily among our graduate-level research assistants, many of whom had been with us for years. We hired new graduate-level research assistants which required our attention in training and onboarding to ensure they were fully equipped and prepared to complete their assignments. Overall, these changes did not significantly impact our work, and we were still able to accomplish our project deliverables/objectives. However, these turnovers were noteworthy changes in the operations of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All team members (e.g., faculty, staff, research assistants) receive thorough onboarding that covers topics ranging from lab procedures and protocols to workplace expectations. All research team members receive training and thorough onboarding in summarizing, synthesizing, and evaluating research. As needed, they may participate in training from the writing center at Auburn University to promote effective writing. Additionally, they can attend workshops aimed at highlighting best practices for achieving research excellence, ultimately empowering them to produce high-quality research and products, and collaborative relationships. Research team members may attend one or more research-focused national and/or international conferences to expand their skills in family science, military family well-being, human development, and/or methodology. Research team members regularly attend trainings and webinars hosted by other DoD-sponsored organizations (e.g., OneOp, Psychological Health Center of Excellence, RAND Veterans Policy Research Institute) on topics relevant to military and veteran family life (e.g., food insecurity, behavioral health). The REACH computer science graduate assistants who develop and maintain the REACH website and mobile application are trained to improve the front-end design (React, TypeScript, HTML, CSS) and the responsiveness of the overall website (Tailwind). They are also trained to use GitHub (i.e., version control). They have access to Auburn University IT specialists and librarians for ongoing mentorship as needed. Additionally, full-time REACH staff members engage in ongoing leadership and management training primarily through Auburn University's Human Resources and LinkedIn Learning; these trainings include, but are not limited to, conscientious leadership, inclusive leadership, management fundamentals, grant management, and understanding relevant policy, such as Fair Labor Standards Act and Civil Rights in the workplace. Additionally, all staff receive cybersecurity-related trainings to learn the latest security threats and phishing techniques of scammers. Regarding our target audiences (i.e., policymakers, helping professionals, military leadership, and military families), TRIP reports, and research reports offer ongoing professional development opportunities as they provide insight into the well-being of military families and actionable implications for those serving military families. The Military REACH team also leads ongoing webinars and in-person presentations to train those working with military families. These trainings have been done in coordination with the Department of Defense, specifically Air University at Maxwell Airforce Base, and the Military & Family Readiness Summit held in San Antonio, TX. Additionally, our Military REACH app is still publicly accessible as a training tool for individuals interested in enhancing their knowledge about military families. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Objective 2, under the Accomplishments section listed above, provides details about our outreach plan. The Military REACH library houses 9,600+ military family research holdings (e.g., TRIP reports, articles, and research reports). Social media (e.g., Facebook, X) and other online platforms (e.g., LinkedIn) allow us several means for disseminating our research; these posts typically describe specific research studies and point the user to the resources of Military REACH. Additionally, we share relevant resources for military families and those working with these individuals. To date, we have accrued 4,100+ followers on our social media platforms. We also have 840+ subscribers to the newsletter, including top researchers in the field of family science, policymakers, helping professionals, and military family members. The communities of interest (i.e., REACH stakeholders) we targeted for dissemination efforts this project year were specifically helping professionals and policymakers. We presented our research reports and products relevant to their work and discussed the resources available on our website by attending conferences and workshops oriented toward general community helpers (e.g., National Council on Family Relations) and military-specific helping professionals (e.g., Military & Family Readiness Basic Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Flight Chiefs at the Military & Family Readiness Summit). Additionally, through our project contact at the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy, Towanda Street, research reports and TRIP reports were distributed to pertinent stakeholders internal to the DoD. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In collaboration with our project contact at the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy, we have agreed to maintain the same goals for the next reporting year. For Objective 1 [research], we will (1) Compose high-quality research reports requested by the DoD in a timely manner. We estimate creating 5-8 research reports, more or less as needed by MC&FP. (2) Identify new research studies with implications relevant to military family support and readiness to ensure the DoD is well-informed of the emerging topics relevant to military families. We estimate we will identify and add at least 500 new, relevant research publications to our online database. (3) Develop two-page synopses of relevant research studies that include (a) a summary of the study's key findings and methodology, (b) a synthesis of implications for stakeholders, and (c) an evaluation of the study's merits. These synopses are termed Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) reports. We estimate creating 144 TRIP reports in the upcoming project year. For Objective 2 [online], we will (1) Sustain and enhance the infrastructure of the Military REACH website and online repository (i.e., the back end). (2) Enhance the utility and usability of the Military REACH website with a focus on user experience (i.e., the front end) by adding new features and functionalities. Priority will be placed on continuing to develop a more sophisticated search engine to ensure users can find relevant and related results with each search and promote website accessibility. (3) Distribute Military REACH reports to stakeholders via web-based platforms (e.g., social media), in-person presentations and briefings, and the REACH website. (4) Distribute our new products in a concise format for easy digestion via our Monthly Newsletter. In the upcoming project year, we expect to complete 12 newsletters.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Military REACH strives to maintain its goal and commitment of delivering resources and support to our target audiences that promote the mission of the DOD-USDA Partnership for Military Families. Stakeholders include but are not limited to, our partners in the Department of Defense's Office of Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP), other military-focused policymakers, helping professionals, and military leaders. The goal of Military REACH was achieved through the following objectives that align with program priorities. In the section below, we provide notable accomplishments for FY 2023-2024. Objective 1 - Research: Deliver timely, high-quality research reports at the request of the DoD. Our team regularly providedcomprehensive research reportson issues related to military family readiness and well-being andresearch summariesof newly published military family science articles highlighting research implications in a time-efficient manner. Notable accomplishments in FY 2023-24: 7 comprehensive research reportswere written. Personnel at MC&FP request research reports to enhance their knowledge and guide their work (e.g., policymaking decisions, guidance to the field). Example:https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-AWB24 1 peer-reviewed publicationwas published in a high-impact journal read by helping professionals serving families.See: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/car.2867 144 Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) reportswere created. These two-page summaries include a summary and synthesis of newly published military family research so our stakeholders have continual access to the most recent empirical research and implications for their work. Example:https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Musilli2024 12 monthly newsletterswere distributed. The monthly newsletter provides quick access to the most recent products published by the Military REACH team. These products include comprehensive research reports and TRIP reports as well as brief report editorials highlighting salient topics regarding military family life. Example:https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-August2024 7 Research In Action brief reporteditorials were created and disseminated. These brief, evidence-based reports provide recommendations for military families and helping professionals in an easy-to-understand format and were shared online and on social media. See:https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/research-in-action Objective 2 - Outreach:Enhance access to research by maintaining and marketing a growing web-based repository (i.e., online library) of research related to military family well-being. Our team created, maintains, and promotes our publicly accessible REACH website (www.MilitaryREACH.org) and library (https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/search). The database offers access to articles and research summaries particularly relevant to military family life. Tools are also available to support users' understanding of academic literature and terminology (e.g., the Military REACH Dictionary guides to demonstrate how to evaluate scholarly research). Notable accomplishments in FY 2023-24: 2,000+ holdings were added to the REACH online library.Our online library is comprised of 9,636 references to journal articles, reports, books, and other reputable publications that address military family life and issues impacting military families. It also contains all Military REACH products, including 1,800+ research summaries (TRIP reports), 61+ comprehensive reports, 740+ dictionary terms, 103 Research-In-Action brief reports, 57 featured news stories, and 73 resources pertinent to military families. Improved article tracking efficiency: Our team modified the article tracking process of new research (i.e., step one of our TRIP writing process), reducing the time it takes for new holdings to be added to our online database from half a year to 4 weeks, on average. Continual updates and maintenance to the Military REACH website.Our partners in the Auburn University Libraries help us to host and maintain an up-to-date, accessible, and compatible website that is publicly available. Sustaining and enhancing the REACH website and library. The Military REACH Web Development team designed an updated website of MilitaryREACH.org that switched from JSP and Servlet to React and Spring Boot. The development process has been steady, and it is in the final stages of testing. It will be pushed to production upon a thorough test of efficiency and security. This shift has improved the front-end design (React, TypeScript, HTML, CSS) and the responsiveness of the overall website (Tailwind). Additionally, the team updated the backend to be compatible with cutting-edge technologies, and they implemented a web service for future updates (e.g., chatbot, semantic search) using Java APIs through Spring Boot. The new website will be publicly accessible in FY 2024-2025. 20 outreach eventsoccurred, including 12 invited engagements, directly connecting with over 600 individuals with the potential to reach over 50 Air Force bases, 6 Space Force bases, and over 5,000 helping professionals. Events included 12 presentations at national and regional conferences, 4 trainings in University and Air Force training centers, and 4 miscellaneous events promoting the project within the University and the discipline. 410 researcherswere personally contacted via email and informed that their work was featured as a Military REACH research summary. The goal is two-fold: to promote awareness about REACH resources and enhance quality assurance of REACH products via author input. Feedback we received from authors includes, but is not limited to,"Thank you for featuring our study in the Military REACH newsletter. It is an honor to have our work showcased, and we deeply appreciate Military REACH's efforts to disseminate important research to those who can most benefit from it." Ongoing empirically based, application-focused content provided to users.Our current reach includes: A. 840+ subscribers to the Military REACH monthly newsletter,a 31%+ increase from FY 21-22. Subscribers include active duty and veteran service members, military families, researchers and educators, military leadership, and military-focused policymakers. B. 4,100+ followers across Military REACH social mediaplatformswho follow the pages to access research findings from current literature and other pertinent information in real time. C. 26,000+ individuals who have accessed the Military REACH websitefrom all 50 U.S. states and 142 countries.

Publications

  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Military REACH: Research and Outreach Website. (2017-2024). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Military REACH Library. (2017-2024). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/search
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Military REACH Research In Action. (2018-2024). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/research-in-action
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Military REACH Community Connections. (2018-2024). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/connections
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Military REACH Dictionary. (2019-2024). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/dictionary
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Military REACH Mobile Application. (2020-2024). Available on Google Play and in the App Store.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Vandenberg, C. & Tidwell, A. (November 2023). Military REACH: Linking research and practice. [Invited presentation]. Community Readiness Consultants & Specialists at Joint Base Andrews M&FRC. Virtual. (International).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M. (December 2023). Barbara Thompson Excellence in Research on Military and Veteran Families Award. [Invited; Presentation Moderator]. (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Tidwell, A. & Lucier-Greer, M. (November 2023). Finding the good in the ugly: Understanding how combat exposure impacts romantic relationship quality and the buffering role of benefit finding. NCFR. Conference Presentation (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M. & ONeal, C. (November 2023). How to elevate the impact of your research and programming: How military and veteran family scholars make an impact on their communities and inform policy. [Invited Presentation]. NCFR. Panel Discussion (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Vandenberg, C. & Tidwell, A. (April 2024). State of Military Kids and Families in 2024 Convening Event, Bethesda, MD. [Invited Presentation]. (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: ONeal, C. (April 2024). Women in Service on Behalf of the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Washington, DC. Panel Discussion. [Invited Presentation]. (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Tidwell, A. & Lucier-Greer, M. (April 2024). Who speaks for veteran families? An investigation of voices centered in veteran family research. SECFR. Poster Presentation. (Regional).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Abbate, K. (April 2024). Undergraduate research opportunities: Achieving a win-win relationship for student, faculty, and staff. SECFR. Roundtable Discussion. (Regional).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cooper, E., Hanson, E., Vandenberg, C., Sherman, H., Short, K., Sjolseth, S., ONeal, C., & Lucier-Greer, M. (April 2024). Barriers and facilitators of engagement in prevention and intervention services: Considerations for military-connected adolescents. SECFR. Poster Presentation. (Regional).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Tidwell, A. (July 2024). Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Training Summit Research Panel, Wahington, DC. [Invited Presentation]. MCEC. (National).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Tidwell, A. & Hanson, E. (March 2024). Military REACH: Linking research and practice [Invited presentation]. Military & Family Readiness Foundational Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. (National).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & ONeal, C. (May 2024). Military REACH: Bridging research and application Military Community and Family Policy. Virtual. [Invited presentation]. (International).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & ONeal, C. (June 2024). Military REACH: Translating research into support for military families. Military and Family Readiness Summit, San Antonio, TX. [Invited presentation]. (International).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Short, K., Lucier-Greer, Wright, E., & O'Neal, C. (November 2023). Examining trends of child maltreatment and child sexual abuse: A 25 year retrospective trend analysis. NCFR. Conference Presentation (National).
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Lucier-Greer, O'Neal, C., Short, K., & Wright, E. (2024). Trends in the annual incidence rates of child sexual abuse and child maltreatment over the past twenty-five years in the United States. Child Abuse Review. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2867


Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audiences include those who serve military families (e.g., direct service helping professionals), those who work on behalf of military families (e.g., policymakers in the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy, researchers), military leadership, and military families themselves. The primary efforts of Military REACH are to make military family science research practical and accessible to facilitate the Department of Defense's (DoD) provision of high-quality support to military families. Our team critically evaluates and synthesizes empirical research that speaks to issues of family support, resilience, and readiness. We identify meaningful trends and practical applications of that research and then deliver research summaries and action-oriented implications to these target audiences. Additionally, by hosting an online library of military family science research, our outreach efforts and developing our Military REACH products also serve a need among family science researchers. Changes/Problems:Being housed at a university, it is typical to expect staff and student turnover. This project year, we experienced staff turnover (e.g., new Post Doc, new Research Associate). Our new hires required our attention in training and onboarding to ensure they were fully equipped and prepared to complete their assignments. Overall, we do not think that these changes impacted our work significantly, as we were still able to accomplish all project deliverables/objectives. However, these were noteworthy changes in the operations of the project. An additional challenge of this project year has been the delay in receiving our funding for FY 2023-2024. All required documentation was submitted in May 2023. However, as the end of the grant year approached, we had not heard about the funding for the next project year, and we needed to submit an NCE request. We appreciate the responsiveness from USDA and DOD about funding. We also note that this delay in funding causes stress to (and the potential for turnover among)employees and students who work for REACHgiven that funding for their jobs was not approved at the beginning of a new fiscal year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All faculty, post-docs, graduate assistants, undergraduate research assistants, and full-time research staff members receive thorough onboarding that includes workplace expectations, human subjects training (CITI RCR training), and training specific to their role. All team members regularly discuss the purpose of Military REACH and collaboratively review project deliverables. REACH research team members are trained in how to summarize, synthesize, and evaluate research. As needed, they can receive ongoing training provided by the writing center at Auburn University to promote effective writing. These team members also have the opportunity to attend one or more research-focused national and/or international conferences to expand their skills in family science, military family well-being, human development, and methodology. Research team members regularly attend trainings and webinars hosted by other DoD-sponsored organizations (e.g., OneOp [formally Military Families Learning Network], Psychological Health Center of Excellence, Annual Partnerships for Veterans & Military Health] on topics relevant to military and veteran family life (e.g., food insecurity, behavioral health). Guest speakers, including military family scientists (e.g., research analysts) and military service providers (e.g., Military Chaplain), are invited to speak with our team and the larger department of Human Development and Family Science to keep us updated on current research, programs, and policies. The REACH computer science graduate and undergraduate assistants who develop and maintain the REACH website and mobile application are trained to improve the front-end design (React, TypeScript, HTML, CSS) and the responsiveness of the overall website (Tailwind). They are also trained to use GitHub (i.e., version control). They have access to Auburn University IT specialists and librarians for ongoing mentorship as needed. Additionally, full-time REACH staff members engage in ongoing leadership and management training primarily through Auburn University's Human Resources and LinkedIn Learning; these trainings include, but are not limited to management fundamentals, grant management, and understanding relevant policy, such as Civil Rights in the workplace. Regarding our target audiences (i.e., policymakers, helping professionals, military leadership, and military families), TRIP reports and research reports offer ongoing professional development opportunities as they provide insight into the well-being of military families and actionable implications for those serving military families. The Military REACH team also leads ongoing webinars and in-person presentations to train those working with military families. These trainings have been in support of OneOp (formally Military Family Learning Network) and done in coordination with the Department of Defense, specifically Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base. Additionally, our Military REACH app is still publicly accessible as a training tool for individuals interested in enhancing their knowledge about military families. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Objective 2 under the Accomplishments section listed above provides details about our outreach plan. The Military REACH library houses 7,500+ military family research holdings (e.g., TRIP reports, articles, and research reports). Social media (e.g., Facebook, X [formally Twitter]) and other online platforms (e.g., LinkedIn) allow us several means for disseminating our research; these posts typically describe specific research studies and point the user to the resources of Military REACH. Additionally, we share relevant resources for military families and those working with these individuals. To date, we have accrued 4,100+ followers on our social media platforms; in the last project year, we had over 16,000 engagements across our social media accounts. We also have 640+ subscribers to the newsletter, including top researchers in the field of family science, policymakers, helping professionals, and military family members, a 20%+ increase in our numbers from last year. The communities of interest (i.e., REACH stakeholders) we targeted for dissemination efforts this project year were specifically helping professionals and policy makers. We presented our research reports and products relevant to their work and discussed the resources available on our website by attending conferences and workshops oriented toward general community helpers (e.g., National Council on Family Relations) and military-specific helping professionals (e.g., OneOp, Military & Family Readiness Basic Course at Maxwell Air Force Base). Additionally, through our project contact at the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy Office, Towanda Street, research reports and TRIP reports were also distributed to pertinent stakeholders internal to the DoD. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For Objective 1 [research], we will (1) Compose high-quality research reports requested by the DoD in a timely manner. We estimate creating 5-8 research reports, more or less as needed by MC&FP. (2) Identify new research studies with implications relevant to military family support and readiness to ensure the DoD is well-informed of the relevant emerging topics concerningmilitary families. We estimate identifying and adding at least 500 new, relevant research publications to our online database. (3) Develop two-page synopses of relevant research studies that include (a) a summary of the study's key findings and methodology, (b) a synthesis of implications for stakeholders, and (c) an evaluation of the study's merits. These synopses are termed Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) reports. We estimate creating 144 TRIP reports in the upcoming project year. For Objective 2 [outreach], we will (1) Sustain and enhance the infrastructure of the Military REACH website and online repository (i.e., the back end). (2) Enhance the utility and usability of the Military REACH website with a focus on user experience (i.e., the front end) by adding new features and functionalities. Priority will be placed on continuing to develop a more sophisticated search engine to ensure users can find relevant and related results with each search and promote website accessibility. (3) Distribute Military REACH reports to stakeholders via web-based platforms (e.g., social media), in-person presentations and briefings, and the REACH website. (4) Distributeour new products in a concise format for easy digestion via our Monthly Newsletter. In the upcoming project year, we expect to complete 12 newsletters.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Military REACH team is committed to delivering resources and support to our target audiences that promote the mission of the DOD-USDA Partnership for Military Families. Stakeholders include but are not limited to, our partners in the Department of Defense's Office of Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP), other military-focused policymakers, helping professionals, and military leaders. The goals of Military REACH were achieved through the following objectives that align with program priorities. In the section below, we provide notable accomplishments for FY 2022-2023. Objective 1 - Research: Deliver timely, high-quality research reports at the request of the DoD. Our team regularly provided comprehensive research reports on issues related to military family readiness and well-being, and research summaries of newly published military family science articles highlighted research implications in a time-efficient manner. Notable accomplishments in FY 2022-23: 7 comprehensive research reports were written. Personnel at MC&FP request research reports to enhance their knowledge and guide their work (e.g., policymaking decisions guidance to the field). Example: https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-SpecialEdBrief 144 Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) reports were created. These two-page summaries include a summary and synthesis of newly published military family research so our stakeholders have continual access to the most recent empirical research and implications for their work. Example: https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Sullivan2023 12 monthly newsletters were distributed. The monthly newsletter provides quick access to the most recent products published by the Military REACH team. These products include comprehensive research reports and TRIP reports as well as editorials highlighting salient topics regarding military family life. Example: https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-August2023 15 Research In Action brief reports were created and disseminated. These brief reports provide evidence-based recommendations for military families and helping professionals in an easy-to-understand format. They were shared online and on social media. See: https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/Families Objective 2 - Outreach: Enhance access to research by maintaining and marketing a growing web-based repository (i.e., online library) of research related to military family well-being. Our team created, maintains, and promotes our publicly accessible REACH website (www.MilitaryREACH.org) and library (https://militaryreach.auburn.edu//advancedSearch.jsp). The database offers access to articles and research summaries particularly relevant to military family life. Tools are also available to support users' understanding of academic literature and terminology (e.g., the Military REACH dictionary, guides to demonstrate how to evaluate scholarly research). Notable accomplishments in FY 2022-23: Sustaining and enhancing the REACH website and library. The Military REACH Web Development team created an updated website of MilitaryREACH.org that is switching from JSP and Servlet to React and Spring Boot, and it is currently in the testing phase prior to being deployed to production. This shift has improved the front-end design (React, TypeScript, HTML, CSS) and the responsiveness of the overall website (Tailwind). Additionally, the team updated the backend to be compatible with cutting-edge technologies, and they implemented a web service for future updates (i.e., chatbot, semantic search) using (Java APIs through springboot). The new website will be publicly accessible in FY 2023-2024. 1,500+ holdings were added to the REACH online library. Our online library is comprised of 7,598+ references to journal articles, reports, books, and other reputable publications that address military family life and issues impacting military families. It also contains all Military REACH products, including 1,600+ research summaries (TRIP reports), 55+ comprehensive reports, 700+ dictionary terms, 93 Research-In-Action brief reports, 57 featured news stories, and 74 resources pertinent to military families. Continual updates and maintenance to the Military REACH website. Our partners in the Auburn University Libraries help us to host and maintain an up-to-date, accessible, and compatible website that is publicly accessible. 14 outreach events directly connecting with over 400 individuals with the potential to reach over 50 Air Force bases and over 9,000 helping professionals. Events included 4 presentations at national conferences, 1 presentation at an international conference, 3 trainings in University and Air Force training centers, and 6 miscellaneous events (e.g., targeted advertisements, focus group meetings) promoting the project within the University and the discipline. 258 researchers have been personally contacted via email that their work was featured as a Military REACH research summary. Feedback we have received from authors includes, but is not limited to, "I really like how our article was summarized because it stayed true to its intended purpose. It is good to know that this is a topic that the DOD has an interest in! This gives me the impetus to continue this line of research." Ongoing empirically based, application-focused content provided to users. Our current reach includes: 640+ subscribers to the Military REACH monthly newsletter. Subscribers include active duty and veteran service members, military families, researchers and educators, military leadership, and military-focused policymakers. 15,400+ individuals have accessed the Military REACH website from all 50 U.S. states and 142 countries. 4,100+ followers across Military REACH social media platforms who follow the pages to access research findings from current literature and other pertinent information in real-time.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: White, M., Frye-Cox, N., ONeal, & Lucier-Greer, M. (November 2022). Information at the tip of your fingers: Clinicians reactions to a continuing education app promoting cultural competence serving military families. NCFR Conference Presentation (National)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & ONeal, C. (2022). Military REACH: Linking research and practice [Invited virtual presentation]. Flight Chiefs Training. (International)
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Military REACH: Research and Outreach Website. (2017-2023). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Military REACH Library. (2017-2023). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/reachlibrary.jsp
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Military REACH Dictionary. (2019-2023). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/DictionaryResult
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Military REACH Mobile Application. (2020-2023). Available on Google Play and in the App Store.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M. & O'Neal, C. (September 2022). Navigating deployment: Strategies to help military families. OneOp Webinar. https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FT_Sep28_2022-1.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lucier-Greer, ONeal, Quichocho, D., Frye-Cox, M. (November 2022). There's an app for that: Evaluating a mobile application for delivering continuing education to providers serving military and veteran families. NCFR. Conference Presentation (National)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & Abbate, K. (August 2023). Military REACH: Linking research and practice [Invited presentation]. Military & Family Readiness Foundational Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. (National)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Vandenberg, C., Hanson, E., Short, K., Chen, C.-F., Sjolseth, S., ONeal, C. W., & Lucier-Greer, M. (June 2023). Taking the guesswork out of IPV assessments: A collection of reliable and valid assessments for helping professionals in a military context. IARR Poster Presentation (International)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M. (November 2023). NCFR military & veteran family focused presentations: 2022 annual conference.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & Abbate, K. (January 2023). Military REACH: Linking research and practice [Invited presentation]. Military & Family Readiness Foundational Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. (National)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Abbate, K., & Tidwell, A. (March 2023). Military REACH: Linking research and practice [Invited presentation]. Military & Family Readiness Foundational Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. (National)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Trehub, A., & Krzton, A. (April 2023). AI and academic libraries: Chasing a moving target. Auburn University Libraries.


Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The primary efforts of Military REACH are to make military family science research practical and accessible as a means to facilitate the Department of Defense's (DoD) provision of high-quality support to military families. Our team critically evaluates and synthesizes empirical research that speaks to issues of family support, resilience, and readiness. We identify meaningful trends and practical applications of that research, and, then, we deliver research summaries and action-oriented implications to our target audiences, which include military families, direct service helping professionals, and those who work on behalf of military families, including policymakers in the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy and military leadership. Outreach efforts and the development of our Military REACH products also serve a need among family science researchers by hosting an online library of military family science research. Changes/Problems:As mentioned, this project year was an overlap of two projects: the1st year of funding for USDA/NIFA Award No. 2021-48710-35671 (PI = Dr. Mallory Lucier-Greer) and the final year of USDA/NIFA Award No. 2017-48710-27339 (PI = Dr. Mallory Lucier-Greer; funded between 2017-2021 with a no cost extension from 2021-2022). Thus, our efforts were focused on wrapping up previous deliverables and ramping up work on the objectives of the new project. We are grateful to our DOD MC&FP point of contact, Dr. Towanda Street, for being a reliable and steady resource throughout this transition. As is typical at a University, we also had staff and student turnover this project year, especially among 3 team members who had been long-term members of our Military REACH team. The onboarding and training of new staff required attention. Overall, we do not think that these changes impacted our work significantly; we were still able to accomplish all project deliverables/objectives, but these are noteworthy changes in the operations of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?All project team members are trained in responsible and ethical conduct with regard to their area of specialization, research or technology/web development via CITI trainings. The Military REACH research team is trained in summarizing, synthesizing, and evaluating research. All faculty, post docs, graduate research assistant, undergraduate research assistants, and full-time research staff members receive thorough onboarding. They also receive ongoing training provided by the writing center at Auburn University to promote effective writing. Members of the research team had the opportunity to attend one or more research-focused conferences to expand their skills in family science, military family well-being, human development, and methodology. Additionally, guest speakers, including military family scientists and military service providers, regularly speak to our team to keep us updated on current research, programs, and policies. The REACH computer science graduate and undergraduate assistants who develop and maintain the REACH website and mobile application are trained to improve the front-end design (Angular, TypeScript, HTML5, CSS3, Cascade) and the responsiveness of the overall website (Bootstrap4). They are also trained to use GitHub (i.e., a repository hosting service). They have access to Auburn University IT specialists and librarians for ongoing mentorship as needed. Full-time REACH staff members engage in ongoing leadership and management training primarily through Auburn University's Human Resources; these trainings include, but are not limited to management fundamentals, grant management, budgeting, designing accessible documents, inclusive language, and understanding relevant policy, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Civil Rights. Regarding our target audiences (i.e., policymakers, helping professionals, military leadership, and military families), TRIP reports and research reports are a form of ongoing professional development as they provide insight into the well-being of military families and actionable implications for serving military families. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Objective 2 under the Accomplishments section listed above provides details about our outreach plan. The Military REACH library houses 6,500+ military family research holdings (e.g., TRIP reports, articles, and research reports). Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) and online platforms (e.g., LinkedIN) allow us several mechanisms for dissemination posts; these posts typically describe specific research studies and point the user to the resources of Military REACH. To date, we have accrued 2,100+ followers on our social media platforms; in the last project year, we had over 16,000 engagements across our social media accounts. We also have 540 subscribers to the newsletter, including top researchers in the field of family science, policymakers, helping professionals, and military family members, nearly doubling our numbers from last year. Two communities of interest (i.e., REACH stakeholder) that we intentionally targeted for dissemination efforts this project year was helping professionals and policy makers. Direct service-helping professionals generally have less time to devote to reviewing and assessing research given their work demands. Thus, we made efforts to connect them to Military REACH resources, especially TRIP reports, that have applications for their work. We attended conferences and workshops oriented toward general community helpers (e.g., National Council on Family Relations) and military-specific helping professionals (e.g., Airmen & Family Readiness Basic Course at Maxwell Air Force Base) to present our research reports that are relevant to their work and to discuss the resources available on our website. This group of stakeholders was also the first target group to receive the REACH mobile app. Regarding policymakers, we completed and are beginning to analyze an efficacy study to determine the impact of Military REACH resources, especially TRIP reports. We are answering questions such as "Do TRIP reports promote military cultural competence and research literacy?" Emerging findings have been provided to USDA and DOD colleagues as well as at national conferences. More nuanced results are expected in the next year. Through our project contact at the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy Office, research reports and TRIP reports are also distributed to pertinent stakeholders internal to the DoD. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For Objective 1 [research], we will (1) Compose high-quality research reports requested by the DoD in a timely manner. We estimate creating 5-8 research reports, more or less as needed by MC&FP. (2) Identify new research studies that have implications for military family support and readiness to keep the DoD well-informed of emerging topics of relevance to military families. We estimate identifying at least 300 new, relevant research publications. (3) Develop brief synopses of relevant research studies that include (a) a summary of the study's key findings and methodology, (b) a synthesis of implications for stakeholders, and (c) an evaluation of the study's merits. These synopses are termed Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) reports. We estimate creating 144 TRIP reports. For Objective 2 [online], we will (1) Sustain the infrastructure of the Military REACH website, online repository, and mobile app (i.e., the back end). (2) Enhance the utility and usability of the Military REACH website with a focus on user experience (i.e., the front end). (3) Distribute Military REACH reports to stakeholders via web-based platforms, in-person presentations and briefings, and the REACH website.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This report reflects work accomplished during the1st year of funding for USDA/NIFA Award No. 2021-48710-35671 between 9/1/21 - 8/31/22. During that same year, our team was submitting final deliverables for the 1st cycle of funding of this same grant, Military REACH at Auburn University 2017-2021 under a no cost extension during 2021-2022, USDA/NIFA Award No. 2017-48710-27339. Thus, some of our accomplishments during this project period are reported under the final report for USDA/NIFA Award No. 2017-48710-27339. This also means that although it is the first year of funding under USDA/NIFA Award No. 2021-48710-35671, this project reflects an ongoing DoD-USDA partnership project housed at Auburn University since September 2017. With a stable and highly qualified team in place, a number of accomplishments were achieved during this reporting period including the delivery of high-quality research [Objective 1] and the dissemination of these research products through a variety of outreach modalities, including the web-based repository (i.e., library) of military family research [Objective 2]. Accomplishments for Objective 1 [Research: Deliver timely, high-quality research reports at the request of the DoD]: 1. Composed 8 research reports requested by the DoD to inform policy decisions (see "Other Products") in a timely manner. We collaboratively worked with several MC&FP offices (e.g., Military Community Support Programs, Children, Youth, and Families, & Family Advocacy Program) to understand their needs and provide a detailed, actionable research report to meet their needs. 2. Developed 144 brief synopses of peer-reviewed research studies (Translating Research Into Practice [TRIP] reports). TRIP reports are brief (2 pages) and provide a summary of the study's key findings and methodology, a presentation of practical implications derived from the findings, and an evaluation of the study's merits. TRIP reports are designed for our stakeholders to encourage evidence-based practice and research-informed decision-making. 3. Identified 1,406 research studies related to military family support and readiness; these studies are provided to users in our online library (see https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/reachlibrary.jsp). 4. Maintained our Military REACH mobile app. In FY20 (under the previous grant), our web developers created a REACH mobile app to promote military cultural competence and research literacy. It is free and available on Google Play and in the App Store. The first round of app development focused on user testing and empirically examining the app as a tool for enhancing military knowledge among helping professionals. In FY21, we evaluated the efficacy of the app to promote military family knowledge and military cultural competence via a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial (RCT). As part of the study, we are examining how users' systematic review of military family research summaries - specifically, two TRIP reports per week for 8 weeks delivered via the REACH app - is associated with enhanced research literacy, knowledge of military families, and confidence serving military families. A total of 259 helping professionals enrolled in the research study component of the app. Helping professionals also received 4 continuing education units (CEUs) when they complete the 16 TRIP reports on the app. Research presentations to family science scholars and helping professionals have been given at national conferences to share emerging findings suggesting that this brief intervention can increase military cultural competence and research literacy. See "Products" listed previously. Accomplishments for Objective 2 [Outreach: Enhance access to research by maintaining and marketing a growing web-based repository (i.e., online library) of research related to military family well-being]: 1. Sustained and continuously improved the infrastructure of the Military REACH website. Our team of IT specialists, librarians, and web developers continue to work together to develop and sustain our website and digital library on 2 terabytes of server space, large enough for potential growth. Our IT team conducts regular maintenance checks for security breaches and website functionality, and then real time patches are applied to fix compromises to our system. Our website received over 7,000 unique visitors across almost 100 countries and all 50 states. 2. Enhanced the utility and usability of the Military REACH library. We regularly receive feedback from users and implement changes to make the library more accessible and intuitive. Users can search the library via a simple query or by using advanced query-processing capabilities. The search feature also connects users with other resources related to their inquiry, such as family focus articles and dictionary terms. In FY21, we continued to customize DSpace to meet our digital repository needs and enhance the search capability for our library. We also partnered with the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department at Auburn University to update our own search capabilities in identifying newly released military family science research. Additionally, we continue to utilize responsive technologies to adapt the website layout to the device being used (e.g., smartphone or tablet), and we remain compliant with Section 508 standards for web accessibility to include visual, motor, and auditory impairments. As mentioned, the library contains 6,500+ holdings (including 1,553 Military REACH TRIP reports and 52 Military REACH research reports). 3. Published and continue to update our dictionary of terms. Terms are categorized into multiple classifications, including terminology related to the military, data analyses, research methodology, family service programming/therapy, and theory. The dictionary improves shared meaning and understanding in the interpretation of research, including the products we create. Terms are linked within each research summary (TRIP report) to provide readers quick access to the definition of potentially unfamiliar terminology. To date, there are over 700 dictionary terms available for users. 4. Distributed Military REACH research and TRIP reports to stakeholders. 4a. Social media and other web-based dissemination efforts. We continued distributing REACH resources on our website and social media. We have 2,100+ "followers" on Facebook and Twitter (@MilitaryREACH). Additionally, we distributed 12 electronic monthly newsletters to our partners at MC&FP and 540 individuals who signed up to receive these updates (a 63% increase). Across platforms, we have had over 16,000 engagements with users as we share information and resources related to military family readiness. 4b. Formal presentations. A variety of presentations and briefings were given throughout the year. For example, our team virtually attended The National Council on Family Relations annual conference a to speak about our online resources and present findings from our research reports at three different briefings. We also presented at outreach events to share about the REACH resources (e.g., local meetings of helping professionals). Twice we presented at the Airmen & Family Readiness Basic Course at Maxwell Air Force Base to recently hired staff members from Airman and Family Readiness Centers (A&FRC) across the world. We also provided information about REACH resources at the Air Force Flight Chief annual meeting. Speaking at these meetings allows us to provide information on Military REACH and suggestions on how helping professionals, such as A&FRC staff, can utilize research to inform their work. We hope to expand these opportunities to other branches of service to promote the utilization of resources. Across 16 events, we connected with approximately 500 stakeholders and estimate the potential impact of these outreach events to have reached over 10,000 individuals.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & ONeal, C. W. (2022, June). Military REACH as a resource: Using research-based materials and practices with military families [Invited presentation]. Airman and Family Readiness Flight Chiefs Virtual Conference. (National)
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Military REACH: Research and Outreach Website. (2017-2022). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Military REACH Library. (2017-2022). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/reachlibrary.jsp
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Military REACH Dictionary. (2019-2022). Retrieved from https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/DictionaryResult
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Military REACH Mobile Application. (2020-22). Available on Google Play and in the App Store.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., & Abbate, K. (2022, March). Military REACH: Linking research and practice [Invited presentation]. Airman & Family Readiness Center Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. (National)
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Trehub, A., & Krzton, A. (2022). Using IBMs Watson for Discovery and Research Support: A Library-Industry Partnership at Auburn University. In Amanda Wheatley and Sandy Hervieux (editors), The Rise of AI: Implications and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Academic Libraries (Chicago, IL: American Library Association/Association of College and Research Libraries).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Lucier-Greer, M., Quichocho, D. & O'Neal, C. W. (2021, November). App-based continuing education for helping professionals: Research competency findings from an efficacy study of exposing practitioners to military family research [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference. (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Frye-Cox, N., O'Neal, C.W., & Lucier-Greer, M. (2021, November). A review of internet-delivered and text message interventions for the treatment of mental health [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference. (National).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Sherman, H., & Lucier-Greer, M. (2021, November). Religiosity, spirituality, and mental health symptomatologies among Soldiers: A latent profile analysis [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference. (National).