---
title: "A simple list of military child and family support resources for trying times"
description: "Sometimes all a military family needs is a list of support resources to reach out for during a turbulent time. So here it is. "
date: "2026-03-14"
modified: "2026-03-14"
authors:
  - name: "Sara Jane Ginn"
    job_title: "Military Spouse, MilSpouse Editor"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/sara-jane-ginn/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-milspouse/military-family-child-support-resources/"
categories:
  - "Family"
  - "Mighty MilSpouse"
tags:
  - "Benefits"
  - "Military Life"
  - "Milspouse"
---

# A simple list of military child and family support resources for trying times

![military family support resources dvids](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/military-family-support-resources-dvids-.webp>)
*(U.S. Air Force/Capt. David Murphy)*

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](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-milspouse/everything-you-need-to-know-about-next-government-shutdown/>)**

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](<https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/understanding_child_trauma_and_resilience_for_military_parents_and_caregivers.pdf>)"
- **Military Child Education Coalition**: "[Developing Positive Coping Strategies](<https://militarychild.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-Resource-Developing-Positive-Coping-Strategies.pdf>)"
- **Military OneSource Counseling**: [Military OneSource Counseling | Military OneSource](<https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/confidential-counseling/>)
- **Stress Relief App:** [Chill Drills App by Military OneSource | Military OneSource](<https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/mobile-apps/de-stress-and-relax-with-chill-drills-by-military-onesource/>)

### Support Resources for Children

- **Military Child Education Coalition**. [Talking with Children about Trauma](<https://militarychild.org/podcast/talking-with-children-about-trauma/>)
- **Sesame Street:** "[Feeling Safe](<https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/i-can-feel-safe-walton/>)"
- **Sesame Street**: "[Creating Feelings of Strength and Confidence](<https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/creating-feelings-of-strength-and-confidence/>)"
- **Sesame Street**: "[H is for Hope](<https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/h-is-for-hope/>)"
- **Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life.** ["Emotional Wellness](<https://www.strong4life.com/en/emotional-wellness>)"

### Military‑Specific Support Resources:

- **Military OneSource**: 24/7 counseling, financial guidance, webinars, relocation help, and confidential support. [Military Basics 101 | Military OneSource](<https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-basics/new-to-the-military/military-basics-101/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cross-network&utm_campaign=new-recruit-pmax&utm_content=fitness&msclkid=e4864e174af715454f9427a7583f753f&utm_term=www.militaryonesource.mil>)
- **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](<https://militarychild.org/>)
- **Military Family Readiness System** (via installation family centers): Help with childcare, employment, crisis support, and family programs. [Military and Family](<https://www.afpc.af.mil/Military-and-Family/>)
- **National Military Family Association (NMFA)**: Scholarships, mental health programs, deployment support, and advocacy. [State of the Military Family Programs](<https://www.militaryfamily.org/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](<https://bluestarfam.org/>)
- **Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA):** Childcare, youth programs, food assistance, and emergency support. [Services - ASYMCA National Headquarters](<https://asymca.org/what-we-do/>)
- **USO:** Deployment support, center lounges, family events, caregiver resources, and transitions assistance. [United Service Organizations](<https://www.uso.org/>)

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.

### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty

**• [It’s time for the VA to recognize spouse proxy for catastrophic veteran illnesses](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-milspouse/call-for-va-recognize-spouse-proxy-veteran-illness/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQa29ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeHmdntKirFjMMLWDUL-bZH9xlGDpBC0W57K8xGVgkPJI1_qKHLU5936LPV6Q_aem_SPQbTkZxeGRsFU4VDF7Efw>)**
**• [Kids are not getting dumber: the truth about the Gen Z intelligence study.](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/feature/gen-z-intelligence-study/>)**
**• [When a casual comment turns into ‘Military Spouse Q&A’](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-milspouse/a-casual-comment-turns-into-military-spouse-qa/>)**

## Author
Sara Jane Ginn served as an active duty military spouse for 20 years, and during that time, while raising four sons, graduated with a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University, moved to and from MO, Germany, KY, VA, TX, and MI spearheading Family Readiness Groups (now Family Readiness Support Groups) at every duty station, and has settled (for now) in the great state of South Carolina. She is a fierce advocate for military spouses and children across the Nation and has promoted prioritizing healthy emotional and mental wellness supports for over 20 years. Her happy place is writing and storytelling, as she believes deeply in the power of shared experiences. Through her work, she amplifies the voices of military families, pulling strength by capturing humor and heart that define life in constant motion. Sara Jane is a George W. Bush Leadership Institute Class of 2025 Scholar and proudly serves as the South Carolina Coordinator for the global non-profit, Military Child Education Coalition. Her life goal is to create spaces where military spouses feel seen, heard, supported, and mighty inspired.