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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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New York offers grants and scholarships that help eligible service members, veterans, and their families afford postsecondary education and navigate educational transitions related to military service.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Qualifies licensed community childcare providers for the MCCYN-PLUS military fee assistance program in New York, helping military families offset childcare costs up to $1,800 per month per child based on family income.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Provides resilience, risk reduction, and suicide prevention resources, supporting mental health and well-being for service members, veterans, and military families
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Provides access to state parks through the Empire Pass, supporting outdoor recreation, wellness, and connection for service members, veterans, and military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health Support
New York City’s Military Family Advocate Program is a collaborative initiative between NYC Public Schools and the Department of Veterans’ Services that enhances military cultural competency, supports engagement with military families, promotes access to benefits, and builds community while reducing stigma for military children and parents.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
New York offers custom military and veteran license plates to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, veterans, and their families statewide.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
New York provides paid family leave benefits to eligible military families, helping support caregivers during qualifying military-related events.
New York provides residency and tax protections for military spouses, supporting workforce participation, employment continuity, and family stability.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New York allows eligible service members, veterans, and their dependents to qualify for in-state tuition through a military residency waiver, reducing financial barriers to higher education during and after military service.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
New York’s Yellow Ribbon program offers redeploying soldiers and their families a robust support network of information and services from county, state, federal, and private organizations, with mandatory pre- and post-deployment events.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
New York allows eligible service members to defer payment of vehicle sales tax, helping ease financial strain during periods of military service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New York provides recruitment and retention incentives for National Guard and Reserve members through RIRP, supporting career continuity, readiness, and family stability.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New York State Public Employee Military Leave and Compensation for Reserve Component Service Members
New York allows public employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves to take military leave with continued compensation, supporting career continuity, readiness, and family stability during service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New York provides specific income tax rules for military pay, helping eligible service members reduce state tax obligations based on residency and duty status.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New York excludes qualifying combat zone pay from state income taxation, helping reduce tax burdens for service members deployed to combat zones.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New York 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.
New York exempts eligible service members from state sales and use tax on qualifying motor vehicles purchased outside the state, helping reduce vehicle purchase costs during military service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Provides access to environmental conservation benefits, supporting recreation, wellness, and quality of life for service members, veterans, and military families.
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
New York allows service members called to active duty to take an educational leave of absence, helping protect academic standing and support a smooth return to school after military service.
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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