Resources
There are numerous organizations throughout the nation and worldwide founded on the mission of supporting military families. Below is a sample of some of the organizations offering resources to military families. Please note, these resources are shared for informational purposes only, and do not imply VDOE endorsement.
- Recognize & Celebrate Military Children – While April has been designated as the “Month of the Military Child,” school divisions are encouraged to take time throughout the year to recognize the nation’s military servicemen and servicewomen, their families and their children. See possible activities and read why the Month of the Military Child was designated.
- Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) – The Interstate Commission was developed to establish a uniform standard that eases the state-to-state transition of military personnel, their spouses, and primarily their children as these children transfer from one state to another and from one state to another and from one school system to another as a direct result of the military parent's frequent reassignments. The MIC3 website offers numerous resources related to the Interstate Compact including one page reference documents and training modules.
- Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) – MCEC's mission is to ensure inclusive, quality educational experiences for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. MCEC offers numerous resources for parents, information about leadership camps and scholarships, and extensive training for educators about the needs of military-connected students.
- MilitaryOneSource.com – Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) to active duty, Guard and Reserve service members, and their families with comprehensive information on every aspect of military life including deployment, reunion, relationships, grief, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care, and much more.
- Military K-12 Partners – The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Partnership program provides information and support to increase understanding of the unique needs of military children as well as academic support to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for military children. Students at the Center provides information for military families, military leaders and school leaders.
- Building Capacity in Military-Connected Schools – The initiative is a consortium of eight military-connected districts, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and the University of Southern California (USC). The project is identifying and providing supports for military-connected students by creating appropriate evidence-based programs, and assisting the districts with implementation.
- The following videos are testimonies of military families and educators, which can be used to raise awareness of the unique needs of military children and the innovative ways schools are involving military families:
- Letter to Superintendents from Secretary Duncan regarding Children of Military-Connected Families – Information from the U.S. Department of Education regarding the need for flexibility related to school attendance policies.
- National Military Family Association – Founded 43 years ago, the National Military Family Association is a non-profit organization focusing on issues important to military families, such as comprehensive child care, accessible health care, spouse employment options, great schools, caring communities, a secure retirement, and support for widows and widowers.
- USA4 Military Families – USA4 Military Families initiative seeks to engage and educate state policymakers, not-for-profit associations, concerned business interests, and other state leaders about the needs of military members and their families.
- US Army MWR – information on family and morale, welfare and recreation for US Army soldiers, families, retirees and civilians
- Military Youth on the Move – advice to elementary, middle and high school students on making the transition to a new school
- Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) – is a national organization of school superintendents to serve school districts with a high concentration of military children
- Virginia Joint Family Support Assistance Program (PDF) – The Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP) is a Department of Defense initiative with a mission to provide mobile, high quality family services to augment current family programs’ ability to meet the needs of active duty, guard and reserve family members. The primary focus of support is service members and families who are geographically dispersed from a military installation. There is a JFSAP team in all 50 states and 4 territories located with the Family Programs National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters.
- Operation: Military Kids – Operation: Military Kids is the U.S. Army's collaborative effort with America's communities to support children and youth impacted by deployment. Whether families are experiencing deployment for the first time, the second time or another in a series of multiple deployments, OMK’s goal is to connect military children and youth with local resources to achieve a sense of community support and enhance their well-being.
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