Military families experience unique challenges that can affect family and home life. The Department of Defense, as well as each branch of the military, works to provide support for military families and their children. In addition to the national programs providing support for military families, each military installation has a Family Service Center and a Family Advocacy Program. This section provides resources for those working with military families and features topics such as adoption, child abuse and neglect, prevention, deployment, domestic violence, and mental health stressors, as well as information on an array of services that are designed to support military families.
- Child abuse, neglect, and prevention
- Adoption
- Deployment resources for families
- Domestic violence
- Behavioral health
Department of Defense Educational Activity
Plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the education programs for eligible dependents of U.S. military and civilian personnel.
Military Installations
U.S. Department of Defense
Provides a directory of military installations both within the United States and worldwide as well as provides contact information for family service centers and family advocacy programs for each installation.
Military OneSource
Prepares military families for important changes, like deployments, reintegration, moves, parenthood, and retirement. Military OneSource acts as a central information hub for members of the military community.
National Military Family Association
Acts as a resource for legislatures and military families alike by providing informative family support resources.
Parenting
Military OneSource
Provides resources designed for military parents, including information sheets, fact sheets, fliers, and branch support programs. Also available from Military OneSource is the New Parent Support Program, which helps military families with young children to adapt to parenthood and to thrive as healthy families no matter where their service may take them.
A Support and Resource Guide for Working With Military Families (PDF - 7,557 KB)
National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families (2013)
Presents a guide to help service providers better understand military structure and culture; connect with existing resources for military service members and their families; and learn about the role that core marriage and relationship skills play in work, school, family, and military environments, including strategies for integrating healthy marriage and relationship skills into service delivery systems for military service members and their families.
Supporting Young Children
ZERO TO THREE (2018)
Provides a series of brochures that focus on the unique experience of parenting a baby or toddler, particularly during times of stress and separation military families may be experiencing.
Military State Policy Source
Department of Defense
Educates policymakers, nonprofit associations, and business interests about the needs of military members and their families. This organization focuses on 10 key issues, including family and child advocacy.