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Explore How States are Supporting Military Families
Across the country, states are advancing thoughtful policies, programs, and partnerships that strengthen support for military and veteran-connected families. This toolkit brings together those efforts in one shared, accessible place.
Select a state on the map to explore local initiatives, or browse the full database below to discover ideas and opportunities being activated nationwide.
Darker shaded states are a Do Your Part state.
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GI LAW provides pro bono, no-cost legal services to Florida's active-duty military members.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Helps eligible military families find affordable community-based childcare, offering reduced fees for licensed providers and referrals to on-post childcare near installations.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Family program that supports military children and youth by promoting social, emotional, and academic development through various programs, delivered by the Florida National Guard Family Program’s network and staff.
Populations: Guard and Reserve Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Florida provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible service members, veterans, and other first-time homebuyers, helping them purchase a primary residence in the communities where they live and work.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Florida Military Benefits Guide
Florida’s Military Benefits Guide connects service members and their families to workforce, training, and career resources, supporting employment readiness and family well-being.
MVAP educated military members and veterans on scams targeting their community, how to protexct themselves, and how to report scams.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Legal/Justice System Navigation, Resource Systems Navigation
Florida offers 51 distinctive military license plate designs to honor the service and sacrifice of service members, veterans, and their families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Florida recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate strong support systems, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Florida Veterans Courts handle criminal cases involving service members and veterans, providing treatment‑focused support for underlying issues like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse to help military families reintegrate and avoid further legal problems.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Legal/Justice System Navigation, Resource Systems Navigation
Florida provides professional license benefits to service members, military spouses, surviving spouses, and veterans, supporting workforce access, career continuity, and family stability.
Florida offers tuition waivers and education benefits for eligible service members, veterans, and their families, reducing financial barriers to postsecondary education during and after military service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Florida provides a property tax exemption for eligible active-duty service members who were deployed outside the United States, Alaska, or Hawaiʻi, helping reduce housing costs based on the length of their deployment.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Florida Senate Bill 538
Florida Senate Bill 538 creates a provisional childcare license in Florida, allowing providers serving military families to operate sooner by meeting Department of Defense training and safety requirements while completing state licensing for a smoother transition among military families. An upcoming 2026 revision of this bill will also prohibit: "a school from imposing additional fees on a student who wishes to participate in extracurricular activities."
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Florida Hunting and Fishing Licenses at Resident Prices for Nonresident Service Members and their Families
Florida allows nonresident service members and their families to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates, helping reduce recreational costs and support quality of life during military assignments.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Florida’s Military Family Employment Advocacy Program supports military spouses and families in accessing jobs, training, and career resources, enhancing workforce participation and family stability.
The Florida Warrior Health and Fitness program empowers service members and veterans to take control of their physical well-being.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Student Enrollment Flexibility
Florida supports military-connected students by providing enrollment flexibility and protections that help maintain continuity of education during military-related relocations.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Mobility & Relocation, Relocation/PCS Issues
A $6,000 state grant will help Pensacola build new affordable housing for service members and military families, expanding community support and housing access.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support, Housing, Housing Concerns/Insecurity
Florida allows eligible veterans and military spouses to be exempt from certain local business taxes and fees, helping reduce barriers to small business ownership and self-employment.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Florida publishes the Advantage Florida Military Benefits Guide to help service members, veterans, retirees, and families understand and access state laws, programs, and benefits that support financial stability, employment, education, and quality of life.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Your Feedback is Welcome!
This toolkit is launching in 'beta' to demonstrate the incredible potential of state level work. We'll keep refining it and would love your help in making it the most comprehensive, easy to use tool out there. Help us improve the States toolkit by sharing anything that needs attention with Blue Star Families by filling out this form.
A comprehensive overview of the methodology and supporting data can be found in the full technical memo.
Let's work together to support our military families.
The Do Your Part coalition is led by Blue Star Families with support from Craig Newmark and craig newmark philanthropies.
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