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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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Department of Natural Resources Wounded Warrior and Veteran Outreach
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wounded Warrior and Veteran Outreach offers outdoor recreational activities for service members, veterans, and their families to support wellness and community engagement.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Maryland declared 2024 the “Year for Military Families” with a legislative agenda to support and empower service members, military spouses, and caregivers through job opportunity expansion, preferential hiring, and increased leave benefits.
Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families
The Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families (SMVF) is a cross-agency collaboration to advance implentation of suicide prevention policies and practices.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Maryland offers affordable rental housing options for eligible service members, veterans, and military families, helping support housing stability.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support, Housing, Housing Concerns/Insecurity
Landing Zone Maryland
Landing Zone Maryland is a dedicated resource hub for military and veteran families relocating to or retiring in Maryland, offering information on vehicles, education, employment, recreation, and benefits.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Removing Bureaucratic Barriers, Resource Systems Navigation
Maryland offers 124 distinctive military license plate designs to honor the service and sacrifice of service members, veterans, and retired service members.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Maryland 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, Belonging/Community Support
The Maryland Veterans Trust provides monetary support and other assistance to veterans and their families, as well as programs that support them.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
State Department of Education’s EXCELS Program
Maryland EXCELS increases access to early education and quality childcare for military families, with 287 programs enrolled and the state ranking second highest in national participation.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Maryland's Commitment to Veterans offers care coordination, peer support, and referral services for military members, veterans and their families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Healthcare Outcomes
Commission on Veterans and Military Families
The Maryland Veterans Commission develops strategic plans to enhance benefits and programs for service members, veterans, and military families, with recommendations submitted to the General Assembly and Governor.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Edward T and Mary A Conroy Student Grant Program
Maryland provides education grants to eligible veterans and their dependents, helping reduce financial barriers to postsecondary education for military-connected students and families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship
Maryland provides scholarship support to eligible veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, helping reduce financial barriers to postsecondary education and support successful transitions to civilian life.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maryland joins forces
Maryland Joins Forces integrates military and veteran family‑serving government and nonprofit organizations, meeting quarterly to enhance engagement opportunities between military families and civilian communities.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council Toolkit
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council offers resources from national and state organizations.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Mission Strong: Community Partner Summits
The Mission Strong Summit unites leaders on Maryland military installations to strengthen support for military families by bridging on‑ and off‑base providers and developing actionable improvements in service delivery.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
Maryland allows eligible state employees to count qualifying prior military service toward their state retirement benefits, helping increase long-term retirement security.
Populations: Guard and Reserve Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maryland supports military-connected students and families through EXCELS in partnership with MCCYN-PLUS by expanding access to quality child care, early learning supports, and transition resources that help families maintain educational stability during military moves.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Hiring Our Heroes
Maryland partners with Hiring Our Heroes to provide workforce support, career training, and employment opportunities for military spouses, veterans, and service members.
Maryland provides tuition reimbursement through STAR for National Guard members, supporting education, career development, and family stability while enhancing readiness and reintegration.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: 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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