DA Form 5562-R: Child Development Services Needs Assessment

DA Form 5562-R: Child Development Services Needs Assessment – Military families stationed in the United States face unique challenges balancing mission requirements with parenting responsibilities. Access to reliable, high-quality child care is essential for readiness, retention, and family well-being. The DA Form 5562-R, officially titled Child Development Services Needs Assessment (LRA), serves as a key tool in this effort.

What Is DA Form 5562-R?

DA Form 5562-R is a U.S. Army form (dated July 1989, with earlier editions obsolete) used to conduct needs assessments for Child Development Services (CDS), now often part of broader Child and Youth Services (CYS) programs. Installation CDS coordinators distribute it to survey current patrons, eligible military members, and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian sponsors—both on- and off-post—to identify child care demands, preferences, satisfaction levels, and gaps.

Primary purposes include:

  • Gathering data on the number and ages of children in families.
  • Assessing current child care arrangements and preferences (e.g., CDC, Family Child Care, off-post options).
  • Evaluating satisfaction with existing programs (hours, quality, fees, etc.).
  • Identifying unmet needs to support facility expansion, programming changes, or resource allocation.
  • Supporting construction project validation (paired with forms like DA Form 5561-R for waiting lists and DA Form 5563-R for demographics) when submitting DD Form 1391 for new or expanded facilities.

This data helps installations plan every two years (minimum) and feeds into five-year plans, ensuring child care aligns with Army mission needs.

Who Uses DA Form 5562-R?

  • Army installations worldwide, with a focus on U.S. bases supporting active duty, reserve, and DoD civilian families.
  • CDS/CYS coordinators who distribute and analyze responses.
  • Families (sponsors and spouses) with children from infants to school-age.
  • It applies in the context of Logistics Readiness Activity (LRA) or similar operational settings but primarily supports broader installation child care planning.

The form emphasizes inclusive surveying to capture both enrolled and non-enrolled families.

Key Sections of the Form

The fillable PDF collects structured data through these main areas (based on the official form):

  1. Sponsor and Contact Information — Name, rank/grade, military/DOD civilian status, telephone, return date.
  2. Number of Children by Age Groups — Birth-18 months, 18 months-3 years, 3-5 years, 6-12 years.
  3. Current Child Care Arrangements — CDC, on-post FCC, babysitters, off-post options, no care needed, or unmet needs.
  4. Preferences for Child Care Types — Ranked from most to least preferred (Army CDC, FCC, off-post, in-home, school-age programs).
  5. Interest in New/Expanded CDC Capacity — Yes/No, and specific program types (infant full/half day, toddler, preschool, school-age, etc.).
  6. Waiting List Status — For CDC or FCC.
  7. Satisfaction Ratings — General operations, hours, program/staff/facility quality, availability of care types, fees (rated Very Good to Very Poor).
  8. Reasons for Not Using Services More — Cost, location, quality, availability, etc.
  9. Additional Comments.

The form can be locally modified for installation-specific needs but must retain core items.

Why This Form Matters for Army Families in the USA?

High-quality, affordable child care directly supports military readiness by reducing parental distractions and lost duty time. Army CYS programs, including Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Family Child Care (FCC) homes, follow strict DoD standards for accreditation, safety, and curriculum.

Completing DA Form 5562-R gives families a voice in shaping services. Aggregated results justify expansions, new hours, or program adjustments to better meet the needs of younger military families often far from extended support networks.

Current Context (as of 2026): Military child care demand remains strong due to staffing challenges and mission tempos. Tools like this form continue to inform policy under AR 608-10 and DoDI 6060.02.

How to Access and Complete DA Form 5562-R?

  • Official Download: DA Form 5562-R PDF from Army Publishing Directorate.
  • Contact your local installation CYS program or CDS coordinator for distribution or questions.
  • Forms are typically distributed via survey to eligible families. Responses are anonymous or aggregated for planning.

Related Forms:

  • DA Form 5561-R: CDS Waiting List.
  • DA Form 5562-1-R: Needs Assessment Methodology (documents survey process).
  • DA Form 5563-R: Demographic Profile.

Tips for Army Families Seeking Child Care Support

  • Explore CYS options early via Military OneSource or your installation MWR/CYS website.
  • Priority placement often goes to active duty based on mission needs.
  • Additional resources: Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) for children with special needs, and community partnerships for off-post care.

If you’re an Army family in the U.S. and need child care, completing needs assessments like DA Form 5562-R helps ensure programs evolve to support your family’s readiness and well-being.

For the most current guidance, visit official Army sites or contact your installation CYS directly. Forms and policies are subject to updates, so always use the latest version from Army Publishing Directorate.