Resources for Military Families
Welcome to our resource portal for military families. You will find great resources from NMFA and other trusted organizations serving military families in areas that are important to you: Health & Wellness, Child Care, and Spouse Education and Employment.
This list is meant to get you started in identifying the resources available to support your family through the unique challenges of military life. If you have any questions or need further support, please reach out to us at info@militaryfamily.org
NMFA’s Legislative Priorities
The Most Urgent Needs for Military Families
NMFA is always on your family’s side. We’re elevating your stories to the highest levels and ensuring your family is well-equipped to face military life successfully. Read about our Legislative Priorities for the 118th Congress.
NMFA’s Operation Purple Programs
NMFA's Operation Purple Programming
NMFA’s Operation Purple programming offers families a variety of ways to connect, take a break and take respite from the unique challenges of military life. Learn about our family programs, summer camp experiences and virtual opportunities here.
Health and Wellness
Retreats for Military Families
NMFA offers Operation Purple Healing Adventures, Operation Purple Family Retreats, and One Day Operation Purple Family Retreats to help families reconnect after deployment or injury. These programs are held throughout the year.
Military Teen Experience Research
Military teenagers experience challenges their civilian peers don’t. We’re committed to amplifying their voices. See what NMFA and Bloom found in our 2021 and 2022 Military Teen Experience Study.
Food Insecurity
NMFA and partners MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger are committed to making sure no military family has to worry about whether they can put food on their family’s dinner table. Read more about our advocacy efforts.
TRICARE Young Adult
NMFA continues to fight to eliminate TRICARE Young Adult and allow young adults to stay on TRICARE until age 26, premium free just like their civilian peers. See how we’re ensuring that happens.
Free Counseling for Military Families
Military OneSource also offers confidential non-medical counseling, coaching, and support. Call 800.342.9647 to reach help or schedule a live online chat session or consultation.
Resources for Preschool and Young Kids
Great for families with young kids, Sesame Street for Military Families has activities, games, and helpful guides for parents that cover topics from long term injury rehabilitation to birthdays.
Free Mental Health Support for Veteran Families
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) offers mental health services for veterans and their families at no cost. WWP services include interactive programs, rehabilitative retreats, and professional services. One example is WWP Talk, one-on-one, telephonic mental health support line that connects veterans and family members to a dedicated team member who helps them work through various issues.
Care Coordinators for Veterans
Veteran Check-In connects users with a care coordinator who will listen, answer questions, and begin the care process. They will then match you or your loved one with programs and organizations that can best provide help. The care coordinator will continue to help schedule care and serve as an advisor.
Child Care
NMFA’s Advocacy
Military families commonly struggle to find high quality, affordable child care. While a lack of affordable child care is a national issue, the problem is even more acute for service members, who move frequently, often work irregular hours, or live far from extended family. Read more about our advocacy surrounding child care and the resources available to you.
ChildCare Aware Fee Assistance
ChildCare Aware offers fee assistance/respite programs. They also have helpful information about choosing and paying for child care.
Find DoD-Approved Child Care Near You
Military Child Care can help you search through local child care programs that are DoD approved. Use their MCCYN program to apply for fee assistance for eligible families who cannot access military-operated child care due to distance or waitlists. Fee assistance for child care in your home (CCYH) is also available.
Grants to Pay for Extracurricular Activities
Our Military Kids offers grants (up to $300 per eligible child) to pay for extracurricular activities for children, ages 3-18, of deployed and stateside activated National Guard and Reserve service members, as well as those of combat-injured Veterans from any service branch. These grants can be used to pay for a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, music lessons, tutoring, and summer camp. They are unable to fund daycare fees, school tuition, or mission trips.
Find Local Child Care Options
Childcare.gov is a search tool for local child care searchable by state.
Education and Employment
Military Spouse Licensing + Certification
More than 30% of military spouses are in careers that require a state-based professional license or certification to practice. Transferability is lacking. Relicensing is expensive and time-consuming. NMFA’s License + Certification hub can help.
Scholarships and Funding for Spouses
NMFA’s Military Spouse Scholarships help cover all degrees, professional licenses and certifications, supervised clinic hours, business expenses, continuing education courses for spouses.
MyCAA Scholarships
The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or associate’s degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.
Search for More Scholarships
The Fisher House Foundation has a search tool and scholarship information. The number of results can be overwhelming, but it can help look for resources that are more specific to your needs.