Do Your Part is made possible by
Do Your Part
State Toolkit
Do Your Part States is in partnership with ...
And made possible by ...
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.
Search the Database
BSF Ideas
BSF Ideas
Populations
Topics
States
Keywords
Legend
Defense State Liaison Office (DSLO) priority.
Spotlight initiative for state.
Search Results
Please use the filters above to view search results.
Puerto Rico provides free tuition for eligible surviving spouses and children of service members, reducing financial barriers to postsecondary education for military-connected families.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Improves the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act of 2021. Allows receiving districts to prepare in advance for special education services; eliminates the one-year limitation for Gold Star families eligible for services; and develops the Purple Star School Program.
Populations: Military Children, Survivor Families Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Military Family Relief Fund
Military Family Relief Fund provides emergency financial assistance for eligible service members, veterans, and military families in Alabama.
Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs connects service members, veterans, and military families to statewide benefits, employment, education, and support resources.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
The Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP) provides tuition assistance to dependents of deceased or permanently disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, and Colorado National Guardsmen as defined in C.R.S. 23-3.3-205. Including dependents of prisoners of war or a person missing in action as defined in C.R.S. 23-3.3-204. Qualified dependents are eligible to pursue an undergraduate study leading to a first baccalaureate degree or a certificate of completion. The legislation authorizing the Colorado Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP) is designed to support dependents studying at Colorado’s public institutions of higher education.
Populations: Military Children, Survivor Families Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Nevada provides Grants-in-Aid tuition assistance through the Nevada System of Higher Education to help eligible students, including military-connected students and families, reduce the cost of postsecondary education.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Homes of Veterans/Widows Acquired Under Public Law
Alabama exempts certain homes acquired by veterans and surviving spouses under public law from property taxation, helping reduce housing costs and support long-term housing stability.
Military Retiree Income Tax Exemption
Alabama provides income tax exemptions for eligible military retirement pay, helping military retirees reduce their tax burden and maintain financial stability after service.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
South Dakota provides free tuition at state-supported institutions for eligible children of service members who died during military service, reducing financial barriers to higher education for military-connected families.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Utah provides tuition waivers for eligible military survivors, helping reduce financial barriers to higher education for children and spouses of service members who have died in the line of duty.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Massachusetts offers a disabled veteran annuity, which is a $2,500 benefit given to 100% disabled veterans, parents of deceased veterans, and unmarried spouses of deceased veterans living in Massachusetts.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support, Other
Wartime Veteran’s Survivor Grant Program
Missouri provides education grants to eligible survivors of wartime veterans, helping reduce financial barriers to postsecondary education for military-connected students and families.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
West Virginia Tuition and Fees Waiver for Surviving Spouses and Children of Service Members Killed in the Line of Duty: education benefit or policy supporting military-connected students, families, and school transitions in West Virginia.
Populations: Survivor Families Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Maryland increases the state income tax exemption for military retirement income, helping veterans, surviving spouses, and military pension recipients retain more of their retirement benefits.
Populations: Survivor Families 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.
Blue Star Families
441 Saxony The Hive/Barn 2
Encinitas, CA 92024
(202) 630-2583
© 2026 Blue Star Families