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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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The Maine Military and Community Network is a statewide coalition of services, state leaders, and military representatives that collaborates to understand, prevent, and address challenges faced by service members, veterans, and their families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
Maine offers 16 military and veteran license plate options to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, veterans, and qualifying family members.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Maine provides workforce and career support through Maine CareerCenter, helping military spouses, veterans, and families access jobs, training, and employment resources.
Maine participates in occupational licensing compacts, allowing military spouses to transfer credentials and maintain employment across state lines, supporting career continuity and family stability.
Maine recognizes military-friendly 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
Maine offers discounted hunting and fishing licenses to service members stationed in the state, Maine residents in the military, and disabled veterans, helping reduce recreational costs.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maine provides resident day-use park passes to active-duty service members, helping expand affordable access to state parks and outdoor recreation.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
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
Maine provides education benefits to eligible dependents of veterans, helping reduce financial barriers and support access to postsecondary education for military-connected families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maine provides financial and resource support through the National Guard Foundation Fund, helping service members and their families maintain readiness, reintegration, and family stability.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maine provides pay to National Guard members serving on state active duty, supporting financial stability, readiness, and family well-being during service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Under Maine’s MUSER Chapter 101, the State Educational Agency ensures a 30-day resolution for special education hearings, issues a final decision, and provides parents with mailed copies, supporting military and all families with children requiring special education.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maine allows nonresident service members and their dependents to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates, helping support quality of life during military assignments.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maine allows military spouses, veterans, and service members to waive portions of the CDL skills test, helping them access employment opportunities and training more quickly in the commercial driving sector.
Maine excludes qualifying military pay from state income taxation and allows service members and spouses to retain their legal state residency for tax purposes, helping prevent unintended tax liabilities due to military orders.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maine excludes qualifying income earned by nonresident military spouses from state taxation, helping reduce tax burdens when spouses relocate under military orders.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
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
Maine provides paid and unpaid military leave and reemployment protections for state employees called to military service, helping ensure job security, benefits continuity, and seniority upon return.
Maine Legislative Document 2029 (HP 1511)
Maine Legislative Document 2029 (HP 1511) enhances the prevention of and response to sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Maine National Guard.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Healthcare Outcomes
Maine National Guard Education Assistance Program
Maine provides education assistance to National Guard members and their families, supporting higher education, career advancement, and family stability while enhancing readiness and reintegration.
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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