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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Increase access to crucial mental health care by facilitating the enactment of interstate compacts that allow for practice via telehealth and for provider license acceptance across state lines.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
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
New Hampshire’s Division of Community-Based Military Programs, within the Department of Health and Human Services, fosters partnerships between military and civilian organizations to support service members, veterans, and military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Provider Cultural Competency Training
SAVE operates as a peer support outreach program that connects veterans and their families with benefits, services, and support. This support explicitly includes lethal means safety trainings and suicide prevention programming.
Populations: Active Duty, Veteran Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
OperationVeteranStrong.org connects veterans and their communities to online evidence-based/supported national and local resources to increase self-awareness, build resilience, and prevent mental health crises. It is administered by the Office of Suicide Prevention.
Populations: Active Duty, Veteran Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Minnesota Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake is open to all honorably discharged veterans for family fun with cabins, tent sites, and RV sites.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health Support
Provides special access passes to parks and recreation areas, supporting outdoor recreation, wellness, and family connection for service members, veterans, and military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health Support
Operation We Remember
Operation We Remember is a campaign including an American flag display to represent veterans who died by suicide in the previous year.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
The Crisis Stabilization Unit provides critical service for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
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
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 counseling services through the military department, supporting mental health, stability, 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
The Kentucky Military Affairs Commission coordinates military-related issues across state agencies and the legislature, supporting service members, veterans, and military families through strategic policy and collaboration.
Students of Military Families and Mental Health Cultural Competency resource guide shares resources, training, and guides centered on military-connected students and mental health.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Provider Cultural Competency Training
Military Family Night by the Center for Prevention offers free sessions for military families, teaching parent communication, child stress management, social skills, and healthy behavior, with dinner and babysitting provided.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
Provides access to morale, welfare, and recreation facilities at the National Guard Training Center at Sea Girt, supporting well-being and readiness for service members and their families.
Populations: Guard and Reserve Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health Support
State Veterans Homes Program
The Alabama State Veterans Homes Program offers care to veterans thorugh a partnership with the government and private industry.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Healthcare Outcomes
Provides access to children’s advocacy centers, supporting safety, healing, and well-being for service members, veterans, and military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Healthcare Outcomes
Talkspace offers virtual mental health services for U.S. Navy members and their dependents ages 13 and older living on Guam.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Mental Health 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.
