COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS

Expanding Childcare for DoD Families

Eglin AFB has effectively addressed its childcare provider deficit through a multi-faceted approach. By collaborating with local and state officials, Eglin expedited the opening of DoD Family Child Care (FCC) homes, tripling the number of homes and increasing capacity, with more in process. Innovative recruitment strategies for the CDC, including marketing and partnerships with Chambers of Commerce, have reopened eight classrooms, with plans to reopen four more by year-end. Eglin also implemented rapid hiring events and a mentoring program for new providers. Additionally, partnerships with the Army and the city of Crestview have expanded childcare options north of the base, including a new facility and future projects expected to serve over 500 children by 2026. To learn more in the AF.mil article Air Force to expand childcare for DOD families north of Eglin.

Off-installation Child Care Options for On-installation Pricing

The Department of Defense, in collaboration with Carlton Academy in Colorado Springs, currently subsidizes the expenses of their off-base childcare center using OSD funds, offering services at on-base prices. Families still utilize the mcc.com for childcare. Local centers interested in joining this partnership can apply through SAM.gov | Contract Opportunities. All centers meet the standards set by the Department of Defense.

Childcare Subsidies 

Learn here how one Army installation partnered with their local community to provide childcare subsidies to military families in California's Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.  

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Partnership Tackles Childcare 

Working with a diverse group of DoD, community, and industry partners, the South Sound Military and Communities Partnership helped lead an initiative to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing military families today: childcare. Click here to learn more about this innovative military childcare strategy. Click here for more information on the My Child Care In Your Neighborhood - Plus program, designed to increase availability of affordable, quality childcare for military families.

Partnerships Lead to a Creative Solution in Childcare

State 4-H Military Liaisons lead Idaho Outreach to Military Kids (OMK) State Teams in partnerships with the National Guard, Army Reserve, the Military Child Education Coalition, Boys and Girls Club of America, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and the American Legion. OMK's goal is to build community capacity to create local support networks, raise community awareness and implement educational programs for Idaho military youth. As a creative solution to childcare challenges for Idaho Reserve and Air National Guard families, the program hosts monthly youth camps on weekends when military parents must be at Gowen Field for drills. Click here to learn more about this creative solution to childcare.

Supporting Military Parents Pursuing Higher Education

Learn how one community's United Way is offering childcare scholarships to cover the majority of costs for quality childcare for military spouses seeking a degree or job training.  By providing access to affordable childcare, parents can further their education and provide a stronger foundation for their family.  These scholarships are available for childcare centers on and off-base. Learn more about this childcare solution for job training and degree seeking spouses.

Back to the Top

Joint Base San Antonio and Pre-K 4 SA Announce First-of-its-Kind Partnership to Support Military Families

Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), with over 80,000 service members and civilian personnel, and Pre-K 4 SA, a nationally recognized early childhood education program, have partnered to address the critical need for child care options for military families.

Midwestern State University Serving Those Who Serve

The Wichita Falls City Council approved up to $2 million for Midwestern State University's new student success initiative, including a Military Education Center. With total funding reaching $4 million from local and city contributions, plus an additional $750,000 for military scholarships, the initiative promises to enhance support for active-duty personnel and their families. MSU Texas President Stacia L. Haynie highlights the initiative as a "force multiplier" that will provide tailored assistance to those who serve, thanks in part to invaluable guidance from Sheppard leadership as they continue to strongly advocate to support their families. The Center will feature a robust support network designed to address the unique needs of military-affiliated students and their families.

Partners in PROMISE MIC3 Advocacy Toolkit
Learn how to advocate for a seat on your state's MIC3 Council here. 

Power of Partnerships: Holloman and Goodfellow Schools See Results

School Liaisons at Goodfellow and Holloman helped secure education initiatives for military children and the partnerships that made it all possible. If you would like to contact these School Liaisons and learn more about their successful partnerships, please reach out to the Department of the Air Force School Liaison Program Manager at af.cyes.slo@gmail.com to connect.

Military Family Open Enrollment in Public Schools

Learn about Colorado Legislation that allows military families to register electronically based on orders and use the base School Liaison Office’s address if necessary.  If you would like to contact the military spouse who made this happen and learn how to do so in your state, please reach out to the Thrive Team at thriveteam@fiveandthrive.org and we will connect you.  

For more information on this initiative, as well as other case studies in community partnerships and education, visit the A+ Toolkit Case Studies.

Malmstrom AFB partners with Great Falls Public Schools

Learn how Malmstrom AFB partnered with their local community to create a pilot Pre-K Program, CDC Intern Program, an Educator's Summit, and more.  Click here for additional information on their seven proposals for partnerships.

Investing in the Military, Education, and the Future of Cybersecurity

Learn here how one community has partnered with the military to develop future leaders in cybersecurity in K-12 Education through a partnership with Jacksonville High School and Little Rock AFB, AK.  You can also learn more about this initiative by emailing school.liaison@us.af.mil.

DoD STARBASE

DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE students participate in challenging “hands-on, minds-on” activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). They interact with military personnel to explore careers and observe STEM applications in the “real world.” The program provides students with 25 hours of stimulating experiences at National Guard, Marine, Air Force Reserve, Army, and Air Force bases across the nation.  Click here for further information on the STARBASE youth outreach program and learn here how you too can have a STARBASE at your location.

Fort Meade's Education and Resiliency Center

Fort Meade's Education and Resiliency Center focuses on education and the five pillars of resiliency: physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual. The services will range from guidance counseling and transition efforts to mental health counseling, wellness programs and financial planning. A premier benefit of this space will be new programming for educational programs needed for successful career placement and continuing education, and expansion of existing programs to broader audiences, including spouses.  Click here to learn more about this multi-million dollar community partnership project that will make a difference for the entire military community. 

Maxwell-River Region Partnership for Educational Excellence

The Maxwell-River Region Partnership for Educational Excellence is a group of individuals made up of Air University faculty, school district superintendents and faculty, state/local government officials, and many other organizations. These entities came together to tackle issues related to K-12 education in the River Region and to ensure that the needs of military personnel in the area were addressed. Check out this video to learn more about this partnership.

Play to Learn at JBLM

Learn more here about a partnership with Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Command that created the first children’s museum on a U.S. military installation in the world.  This new location will continue to build upon relationships established through Pierce County, Tacoma's Play to Learn programming on JBLM, and is designed to serve children and their families, with an emphasis on early learners, those experiencing special needs, and reintegration of our military into family life.  This project is supported by the JBLM Command, as well as a $4.8 million effort by supporters of the Children’s Museum of Tacoma as part of the $10 million More than a Museum Campaign.

5 Schools Receive Purple Star Award for Supporting Children of Military Families

The Nevada Department of Education has announced that five schools have been awarded the Purple Star School designation for committing to support Nevada's military-connected children’s unique educational and social-emotional needs. These schools affirm Nevada’s unwavering commitment to supporting military-connected students and families. 

Learn more at AZ Purple Star Success.

Back to the Top

EFMP One-Stop Model

Learn how two AMC communities support EFMP families by consolidating various resources into one location supporting both the healthcare and educational needs of EFMP families. The EFMP One Stop at Scott AFB's Military & Family Readiness Center was modeled after the successful initiative at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL).  The JB MDL EFMP One Stop operates with the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (an independent 501c3 organization) through a community partnership initiative known as the Military Family Support 360 Project.  The centralized hubs at Scott AFB and JB MDL combine the medical, family support (to include special education needs), and assignments components of the Exceptional Family Member Program, streamlining access to services and resources for families. Now, families at both bases can address all their EFMP needs in one convenient location, eliminating the need for multiple appointments across different offices. This initiative fosters better coordination and communication among EFMP functions, ensuring efficient and comprehensive support.   

Sean's Room

Sean’s Room is by Airmen, for Airmen. The program provides options for individuals, with the main one being the opportunity to get peer-to-peer support. It lowers barriers and is more informal. It doesn’t go into one’s medical record, so it reduces the stigma and increases access to finding help. Sean's House was originally started by Christopher Locke after he lost his son, Sean, to suicide in 2018.  Senior Airmen Connor Runkle, a C-17 Globemaster Crew Chief, worked with Wing leadership to bring Sean’s Room to JB MDL after losing two friends to suicide within a year.

Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of Alaska

The ASYMCA of Alaska coordinates with local installation leadership to ensure a network of support for currently serving military families stationed in Alaska. This collaboration identifies and addresses gaps in services that pose a hardship to service members and their families—hardships that can negatively affect mission readiness.  This initiative is not funded by the DoD but instead through partnerships with the local community. One effort of support is through the ASYMCA Children's Waiting Room (CWR) which provides a safe, nurturing environment for children while their parents attend medical appointments at the JBER Hospital, the Bassett Army Community Hospital on Ft. Wainwright, or the Baker Field House on Eielson AFB.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base partners with the City of Goldsboro

Physical fitness can have immediate long-term health benefits while also improving quality of life. Learn here how Seymour Johnson Air Force Base partnered with the City of Goldsboro to create a multi-sports complex and add a 2500 square foot addition to the Seymour Johnson Fitness Center.

Fort Meade's Education and Resiliency Center

Fort Meade's Education and Resiliency Center focuses on education and the five pillars of resiliency: physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual. The services will range from guidance counseling and transition efforts to mental health counseling, wellness programs and financial planning. A premier benefit of this space will be new programming for educational programs needed for successful career placement and continuing education, and expansion of existing programs to broader audiences, including spouses.  Click here to learn more about this multi-million dollar community partnership project that will make a difference for the entire military community. 

Partnership for Mental Healthcare

Learn more here about the El Paso Approach to providing community-resourced mental healthcare to military families through a partnership with the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors.

Back to the Top

Altus AFB Community Partnership Resolves Base Housing Gaps

Learn how Altus AFB partnered with their local community to provide quality and affordable housing to military families assigned to Altus AFB in Oklahoma. 

Cannon AFB Community Solutions

Five & Thrive in action! Check out how one community is tackling the top five quality-of-life challenges by creating subcommittees for each of the five focus areas. As a part of Five and Thrive’s Safe and Affordable Housing subcommittee, this team identified an innovative solution to provide housing for incoming single airmen. A 200-room complex is currently being constructed and is the first of its kind in the Air Force, exclusively housing single airmen with furnished dorms and updated appliances. Airmen residents will have their own private living space and bathroom, and share a kitchen and living room with one other resident. The public-private lease will provide 200 additional beds for Cannon AFB airmen when the project is complete. You can learn more about this initiative here. 

Navy Housing Rental Partnership Program

The Rental Partnership Program (RPP) is an agreement between the Housing Service Center (HSC) and community housing landlords and is designed to provide Service Members with suitable and affordable off-base housing and aid In defraying some of the costs incurred by relocation. Housing units which are offered In the RPP are evaluated, inspected and qualified to meet the highest standards by the Navy HSC. The RPP available to both families and unaccompanied Service Members.

Back to the Top

Military Spouse Career Opportunities in Tech
CNM Ingenuity, in partnership with NextFlex and the Kirtland Partnership Committee (KPC), launched an 18-month pilot program in October 2024 designed to boost career opportunities for military spouses while meeting critical workforce needs in the tech sector. This initiative will fully cover tuition costs and provide a $2,000 stipend to military spouses enrolled in CNM Ingenuity's Internet of Things and Rapid Prototyping Bootcamp—a rigorous 10-week program aimed at equipping participants with the skills needed for tech careers. The primary objective is to provide career-ready training and facilitate direct employment connections. To achieve this, local employers, sourced through the KPC network, will be leveraged to interview and potentially hire graduates from the bootcamp. By linking local businesses with these skilled individuals, we aim to create a win-win situation that addresses both the employment needs of companies and enhances job opportunities for military spouses. This partnership is a strategic effort to enhance workforce development and support the professional growth of military spouses while fulfilling local business staffing requirements. Learn more about the Deep Dive Coding10-week boot camp at https://www.deepdivecoding.com/iot/. Connect with the Kirtland Partnership Committee at https://kpcnm.org/.

ADVON™ Team for Military Spouse Employment Program
The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Military Spouse Employment Program is a powerful example of how communities can support military spouses in overcoming employment challenges. Recognizing that military spouses often need to secure jobs quickly when moving to new areas, this initiative offers a proactive solution by acting as an Advanced Echelon or ADVON™ team – just like the military teams that prepare for smooth transitions.

Through their partnerships with local businesses and organizations, the Montgomery Chamber connects spouses with employment opportunities that align with their skills and experience. This initiative helps spouses "hit the ground running" by providing targeted employment support and essential resources, ensuring a smooth transition into the local workforce to help military families thrive wherever they are stationed.

Travis SPRIINGs into Total Force Spouse Initiative 

The 60th Air Mobility Wing launched the Spouses Professional Reach Innovation Inspiration Networking Gateway (SPRIING) Space initiative, which is hosted within the Military & Family Readiness Center. The area provides access to commercial internet and separate office areas with desks. Additionally, because it is located within the Military and Family Resource Center, members will have direct access to development resources.

JBSA Workforce & Transition Alliance

The original purpose of the “Alliance” was to help transitioning service members find post military services and employment.  The Alliance has embraced the Five & Thrive framework and are now instrumental in helping improve the quality-of-life challenges of JBSA families in five key areas -- childcare, education, healthcare, housing, and spouse employment -- by advocating for quality of life improvements, fostering community partnerships, consolidating quality of life resources in a one-stop shop, educating military families on existing efforts and best practices, and promoting the exceptional value of the military-connected spouse. The JBSA Workforce & Transition Alliance strives to build relationships among government and non-governmental agencies, as well as veteran nonprofit organizations, to provide opportunities for transitioning service members, military spouses, and dependents, seeking assistance with employment, education, credentialing, and entrepreneurship.

Hire Oki Spouses Project 

The team behind the Hire Oki Spouses Project began their project with the core belief that military and DoD civilian spouses are the experts in their experience. Impacted spouses need a platform to not only voice their challenges but also present location-specific solutions. The Hire Oki Spouses Project seeks to explore employment barriers for military and DoD civilian/contractor spouse healthcare workers who are living in Okinawa. Hiring spouse healthcare workers in Okinawa is expected to have a positive impact on spouse unemployment, access to healthcare, healthcare shortages, and recruitment/retention challenges. The project conducted two virtual community consensus workshops with healthcare professionals and local stakeholders in Okinawa to explore barriers to healthcare unemployment. This effort identified four themes regarding barriers to employment with 7 key recommendations for spouse healthcare worker unemployment. Community Partnerships made this possible, including support from the Air and Space Forces Association F2 Grant Program and the National Military Family Association. For more information, check out the Hire Oki Project Guide and read the full project report.   

Military Spouse Co-Working Space

See how the Army has created co-working space opportunities for military spouses in this ADC Presentation and News Article.

Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zones (MSEEZ)

Working with a broad array of public and private sector supporters, MSEEZ foster collaboration among local stakeholders and work to identify opportunities as well as barriers to entry for military spouses seeking meaningful employment via the Hire, Train, and Advocate pillars. Established to connect military spouses with companies committed to hiring, MSEEZ are collaborative efforts among the local business, civic, and military communities that establish employment networks in municipalities around the country. MSEEZ communities address local military spouse unemployment and underemployment issues through working groups. The working group members are in the local community and represent government, industry, or nonprofit organizations. The MSEEZ Playbook details best practices for working groups.

Military Spouse Space

Learn here how one community has made a difference to provide a place spouses can work, study and connect. Thanks to a partnership between Vance AFB and the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), a creative solution was identified that supports spouse employment and promotes mental well-being through socialization and community. If you are considering establishing a Spouse Space at your installation check out the Vance Spouse Space Creation Guide.

JBLM opens Spouse Space Honoring Military Spouses

The McChord Heritage Room, is a place of comfort, inspiration, and connection for spouses and service members who served, and continue to serve as the backbone of Team McChord. This project, made possible through spouse efforts and community collaboration, stands as a lasting tribute to the indelible mark Brown left on McChord and beyond. This spouses space, pays homage to Joan Brown, the wife of U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald Brown, former Wing Commander at the 62d Airlift Wing from 1977 to 1979.

Rosie Project

Rosie Project offers a 6-month Information Technology program for military spouses in collaboration with Weber State University and Hill Air Force Base. The military spouses attend courses that are specific to the needs of the Department of Defense and prepare them to pass IT Certifications. The course content includes technical and soft skills that will set the spouses up for success when transitioning into an entry-level GS-2210 position. Child care is provided for participants with young children during in-person classes.

Currently, this program exists at Hill, Tinker, Robins, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in-person. Rosie Project is currently looking to expand to other locations.

Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot

Military spouses of currently serving members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, to include active, reserve and National Guard components, are invited to apply to the new Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot, a competitive multi-year program that provides spouses with paid 12-week fellowships at employers across various industries and locations. Host employers provide fellows accepted into the program with hands-on professional training and mentoring in the civilian workplace. Those who excel in the program and are a fit with their host company may be invited to join the employer as a direct hire.

Back to the Top

Supporting Military Spouses with the Tampa Chamber of Commerce

Five & Thrive is spotlighting the Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Military Spouse Program, an initiative designed to connect military spouses with local businesses and career resources, focused on Childcare, Education, Healthcare, Housing and Spouse Employment. This program aligns with our mission to enhance the quality of life for military families by addressing their unique challenges and fostering community support.

Heroes Welcome Initiative
The Heroes Welcome Initiative in Alabama is a standout model for supporting military families and service members, offering a welcoming and resource-rich experience upon their arrival. This program is designed to connect Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard families with local and state-wide resources tailored to meet their specific needs. By working in close partnership with community representatives across Alabama, the initiative ensures that military families have access to valuable information.

Sheppard AFB M&FRC | Five & Thrive Podcast

The Sheppard Air Force Base Military and Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) hosts the "Five & Thrive" podcast, focusing on the top five quality-of-life issues faced by military families. Episode 6 discusses resources for military spouse employment, featuring insights from the local Chamber of Commerce, the Hiring Our Heroes program, and Sheppard's own M&FRC.  

The Sheppard M&FRC has also revamped the HeartLink program to include quality of life issues and emergency preparedness.  The Arrive & Thrive at HeartLink includes a briefing from Wing leadership, Tricare, and Emergency Preparedness and followed with a resource fair to include School Liaisons, Housing, Chamber, SAPR, Chaplins, MFLACs, Spouses club and more!

Offutt AFB | United Way Join Forces

Offutt Air Force Base’s Military and Family Readiness and United Way of the Midlands (UWM) signed a partnership agreement to launch the Military and Family Helpline 211, June 26, 2024. Nearly 70% of active-duty service members and their families live off base, making it essential to provide robust quality of life support systems that extend beyond military installations and Veteran Affairs offices. This innovative collaboration uses the infrastructure of UWM's existing 211 contact center to deliver comprehensive, confidential information and referral assistance to military connected individuals including veterans, active/guard/reserve service members, retirees, civilian personnel, and their families. 

EFMP Resources by Service Branch

Partners in PROMISE (PiP) has consolidated resources for EFMP families by branch into one convenient location. You can find additional resources from PiP to support you on your EFMP journey.

Welcome to the Family

"Welcome to the Family", an innovative virtual class tailored for new military spouses and fiancés (BMT and Tech Training). This interactive program aims to educate, equip, and empower individuals with essential knowledge on military processes and resources. By offering a welcoming space for learning and dialogue, we ensure no spouse feels isolated or uninformed as they navigate the complexities of military life. 

Held weekly on Mondays from 1-2 pm (CST) via Zoom, this initiative provides a structured curriculum covering key topics such as DEERS, ID Cards, Healthcare, Orders, Finances, Relocation, Housing, and more. One session of the program is dedicated to introducing attendees to resources including the Military & Family Readiness Center and Five & Thrive program/resource materials. Participants can join at any point, with classes designed to be independent of each other. "Welcome to the Family" fosters a sense of community and support, facilitating smoother transitions and enhancing the well-being of our Airmen, Guardians, families, and broader military community. This class has been added to the Aim High app under links-San Antonio/BMT- Welcome to the Family, being utilized by the Air Force Recruiting Service recruiters in their "Family Support Guide" and new recruits. It is also advertised heavily within the JBSA LAK 37 TRW and has been pushed to JBSA FSH medical students covering all branches of service.

By arming new military spouses with critical information and resources, this initiative bolsters their ability to support their partners, alleviate stress related to relocation, and promote family stability. This translates into enhanced retention rates among service members, heightened morale within military communities, and ultimately, superior operational readiness. Investment in this program yields enduring benefits, positively impacting the welfare of our military families and the overall effectiveness of our armed forces throughout their military career. 

Thrive Guide — Wichita Falls Chamber

The role of the Wichita Falls Chamber includes bridging the gap between Sheppard Air Force Base and the community, supporting military families in all stages of life, and retaining the base and its affiliates. Between programs for employment, community connection, military discounts, resources, advocacy, and creating a Wichita Falls Thrive Guide that mirrors the Thrive Guide with local, base, and Texas state resources. The chamber has graciously shared the template to help others create their own!

New AF pregnant aircrew policy means new achievement for B-1 pilot

Maj. Lauren Olme helped bring about a policy change in the Air Force, that offers female aircrew members the same career development opportunities as their male counterparts by allowing them to fly for a longer duration during pregnancy. This policy shift was implemented after years of careful analysis and research by aircrew physiologists within the Air Force and other organizations, ensuring that it is safe and appropriate for pregnant women to continue flying. With this change, female aviators can build their qualifications and flight hours, allowing them to advance in their careers without interruption due to pregnancy.

AMC Squadron Leadership Course creates digital badge for Airmen and spouses 

After about 40 hours of training, participants complete the course with a certification badge that demonstrates to Airmen, mission partners, and industry professionals that they have gained the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in squadron command leadership roles.

Front Range Key Spouse Symposium

As an official Unit Family Readiness Program, the Key Spouse program enhances communication between unit leadership and families, promotes individual, family and unit readiness, and increases community connectedness. After seven months of planning, a dedicated group of military spouses and community partners from Peterson, Schriever, Vandenberg and Buckley Space Force bases, as well as the U.S. Air Force Academy and F.E. Warren Air Force Base led the inaugural Front Range Key Spouse symposium to share creative and collaborative solutions to improve the quality of life for military families that can be replicated at other installations.

Back to the Top