What Is a Twitter Chat?
A Twitter chat is like a meeting on Twitter; it has a specific discussion topic and a scheduled start time. Using the hashtag #MilCents at the end of each tweet, MFAN will ask questions to a group of financial experts.
Media
MFAN’s work has been covered in national and local print, broadcast, and digital news. Whether we’re discussing our latest research, introducing the broader public to the modern military family, or weighing in on our lifestyle, we’re committed to responsibly representing military families based on what we see in our research and what we experience firsthand.
MFAN Launches 1 Million Meals Challenge to Support Military Families
The Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) announced its goal of providing the equivalent of 1 million meals to military families nationwide over the next several months. A Facebook Live launching the campaign was hosted by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and included participation from several partnering organizations and elected officials.
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CBS News – “Light at the end of the tunnel”: Military families turning to food banks receive outpouring of support
The Military Family Advisory Network said the organization will take a three-pronged approach to deliver support to military families in need. "First, immediate food relief through local partnerships. Secondly, connecting families to ongoing support and resources. Third, conducting research to understand and ultimately address underlying factors that lead to food insecurity among military families," said MFAN president Shannon Razsadin. "This program will provide meaningful impact for families who serve today and those who will follow."
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CBS News – Military families are increasingly turning to food banks during the pandemic
Shannon Razsadin, president and executive director of MFAN said the pandemic has "exacerbated" the issue for military families. "What many people don't know is that military families move, on average, every two-and-a-half years. And every time families move, there's a complete restart. That means looking for a new job, finding new childcare, getting set up with new schools, finding a new home," Razsadin said. "And with COVID, families have continued to move. And when you move in a market where you maybe don't have as many housing options or the employment situation isn't what it used to be, it has really created additional problems for military families."
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Military Times – Retired military may face fewer transition problems than their peers
Veterans advocates for years have emphasized the importance of community help in recovery and reintegration for wounded troops. But a new survey released by the Military Family Advisory Network and Wounded Warrior Project suggests that veterans who spend only a few years in the ranks may have an even more difficult time finding those support networks than their retired peers.
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Military Families Lose About $5,000 With Every Move
Military families move, on average, every 24 to 36 months, and each move sets each family back about $5,000. That’s money they’ll never be reimbursed for and will never recover. MFAN has collected data from military families over the past four years that show that financial stress is a primary burden during the permanent change of station (PCS) process. The COVID-19 crisis during this year’s moving season has added extra challenges that promise to make moving even costlier and more stressful than usual.
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Intimate Partner Violence Plagued Military Couples Even Before Quarantine
Quarantining at home through the stressors of COVID-19 has amplified issues in already problematic relationships, leading to a surge in domestic violence reporting nationwide. However, even before the pandemic, 81% of military community respondents to MFAN’s 2019 Military Family Support Programming Survey, presented by Cerner Government Services, said they were aware of intimate partner violence in their neighborhoods and social circles.
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