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State Toolkit
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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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Military & Family Readiness Specialists are available to assist service members and their families pre-, during, and post-deployment in six main areas: legal resources, financial counseling, TRICARE resources, ID cards and DEERS, crisis intervention, and community information.
Populations: Guard and Reserve Topics: Legal/Justice System Navigation, Resource Systems Navigation
A program that offers free childcare through a variety of providers for service members while away on duty during drill.
Populations: Guard and Reserve Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Idaho offers 10 distinctive military license plates to honor the service of active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
Idaho allows deploying service members to receive refunds or rain checks for unused hunting and fishing licenses, tags, and permits, helping prevent financial loss due to deployment.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Idaho provides occupational and professional licensing benefits to service members, veterans, and military spouses, supporting workforce access, career advancement, and family well-being.
Idaho participates in occupational licensing compacts, enabling military spouses to transfer credentials and maintain employment across state lines, supporting career continuity and family stability.
Idaho recognizes schools that demonstrate strong supports, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
Idaho allows nonresident service members and their dependents to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates, helping reduce recreational costs during military assignments.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Idaho offers a newsletter from Idaho National Guard J9, Service Member & Family Support including a range of support services.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Healthcare Resource Access, Resource Systems Navigation
Total Health encompasses eight areas of wellness of the mind, body, and soul. There is a website, resource list, and mobile app.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health Support
Provides income-based childcare assistance to eligible Idaho families with children under age 13 (or older with a disability), helping working families pay for childcare, including military childcare where Department of Defense requirements exceed Idaho state licensing standards.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Healthcare Resource Access, Resource Systems Navigation
Expands the legal definition of “Armed Forces” to include the U.S. Space Force, ensuring Space Force service members are recognized in state law and eligible for the same benefits, protections, and programs as other military branches.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Removing Bureaucratic Barriers, Resource Systems Navigation
Idaho offers in-state tuition to eligible service members, veterans, and their dependents, reducing financial barriers to higher education during and after military service.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Idaho allows eligible service members and veterans with military driving experience to waive certain CDL testing requirements, helping them transition more quickly into civilian commercial driving careers.
Idaho offers special hunting and fishing license options for active-duty service members, including nonresidents stationed in the state and residents on military leave, helping expand affordable recreational access.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Behavioral Health and Wellness Team
The Behavioral Health and Wellness Program offers referrals to state, federal, and community programs for clinical and non-clinical needs.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Idaho excludes earned income of eligible nonresident military spouses from state taxation, helping prevent unintended tax burdens when spouses relocate under military orders.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
The DoD Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program connects National Guard and Reserve members and their families to resources and support throughout the deployment cycle, enhancing readiness, reintegration, and family well-being.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Other, Resource Systems Navigation
Participates in the Military Interstate Children’s Compact (MIC3), which supports military-connected students and families by standardizing school enrollment, placement, eligibility, and graduation requirements during interstate transitions.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Idaho allows colleges and universities to award academic credit for prior learning and military training, helping service members, veterans, and their families reduce time and cost to complete postsecondary education.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
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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