We are living in unsettling times across the globe; times that seem to relentlessly shake our foundations and force our military-connected communities to brace themselves for one disruption after another.
Our community has been hit particularly hard these past several months. We’ve seen life-altering ramifications from the government shutdown, constant leadership shifts and policy changes, furloughs, non-renewed government contracts affecting our Guard and Reserve Components, and the imminent deployments for every branch of service weigh heavily on our readiness.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about a government shutdown before the next one
Our service members have been trained for these types of upheavals, but nothing can truly prepare their brave families (spouses, children, parents, siblings, and extended family) for what lies ahead, much less for navigating the unpredictability of tomorrow.
And we highly recommend that no one should face this alone. We all could use battle buddies right about now.
It is crucial for our communities to lean on, look to, and learn from shared knowledge and experience. Years of conflict have forced our national leaders and support organizations to look ahead, learn from the past, and move forward to research-based recommendations to get our military community from uncertainty to “we can do this, and this is how we’ll get there.”
No single one of us has to do this alone, which is why we have assembled a variety of resources for you to use during these times of uncertainty.
Family Support Resource Links
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: “Understanding Child Trauma and Resilience: FOR MILITARY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS“
- Military Child Education Coalition: “Developing Positive Coping Strategies”
- Military OneSource Counseling: Military OneSource Counseling | Military OneSource
- Stress Relief App: Chill Drills App by Military OneSource | Military OneSource
Support Resources for Children
- Military Child Education Coalition. Talking with Children about Trauma
- Sesame Street: “Feeling Safe”
- Sesame Street: “Creating Feelings of Strength and Confidence”
- Sesame Street: “H is for Hope”
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life. “Emotional Wellness“
Military‑Specific Support Resources:
- Military OneSource: 24/7 counseling, financial guidance, webinars, relocation help, and confidential support. Military Basics 101 | Military OneSource
- Military Child Education Coalition: Connecting students and families to schools, organizations, and other resources to make sure students are college-, work-, and life-ready. Military Child Education Coalition | Supporting Military Children
- Military Family Readiness System (via installation family centers): Help with childcare, employment, crisis support, and family programs. Military and Family
- National Military Family Association (NMFA): Scholarships, mental health programs, deployment support, and advocacy. State of the Military Family Programs
- Blue Star Families: Community events, support groups, and research-based programs to reduce stress and isolation. Welcome to Blue Star Families
- Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA): Childcare, youth programs, food assistance, and emergency support. Services – ASYMCA National Headquarters
- USO: Deployment support, center lounges, family events, caregiver resources, and transitions assistance. United Service Organizations
Don’t limit yourself to the above-mentioned resources alone; every family member has individual needs that need to be met. Identify those needs first, then develop a list of resources that are the best fit for your family.
MilSpouses: Please know that we see you and are here to provide guidance, support, and encouragement as we continue to lead our families, communities, and households in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
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