Blue Star Stories
Lessons Learned: How Schools Can Support Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Military Children
You may be surprised to know that nearly a quarter (24%) of active-duty family respondents to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey report their family was enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), a program that is intended to ensure family members’ special needs are considered during the assignment process. Most active-duty spouses…
Read moreCelebrate American Artists with Blue Star Museums!
August is synonymous with a lot of exciting things — most notably back to school, pool time, and family fun! But did you know August is also American Artist Appreciation Month? What better way to celebrate these observances than to get the family together to visit some of the amazing Blue Star Museums across the…
Read moreBlue Star Community Changemaker: Little Free Libraries
Blue Star Community Changemaker: Little Free Libraries Delivered by CSX Pride in Service The modern American military is an incredibly diverse group of individuals—many are married and have children. Ensuring that dependent children have support and opportunities to thrive is a major concern for those who serve. In fact, the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey…
Read moreDayton Area Military Spouses Tackle a Lesson on Influence
Did you know that, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, one in three (34%) active-duty family respondents reported they know nobody in their local civilian community well enough to ask them for a favor? Most civilians don’t realize that military families move into their neighborhoods with zero support and scarce job prospects…
Read moreManage Your Stress and Worry with a Free Course
Military-connected families have so many responsibilities, from the day-to-day work to figuring out plans for things like PCS moves, activations and deployments, shifting childcare, employment insecurity, and more. Many times, military family members face added stress and worry as they try to make sure everything runs smoothly and to take care of everyone in the…
Read moreThank You For Being A Friend: A Celebration of Military Friendships
Friend: a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. It’s a simple definition for a word that carries so much weight. Military families, maybe more than any other group of people, know the immeasurable value of a friend. With service members leaving frequently for deployments and training, and…
Read moreBuilding the Confidence to Find a Career that Works
Did you know that, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, nearly half (42%) of all active-duty service members reported that spouse career opportunities are a factor in their preference for choosing a new duty station? Why would that be a concern? Because with 20% of military spouses currently unemployed according to the 2020…
Read moreMacy’s Provides Dining Room Makeover For Navy Family
You will often hear that military life builds resilience. Between frequent moves, long deployments, and unpredictable training schedules creating more time away, this life certainly knows how to throw curveballs. At times, even the most seasoned military families struggle to navigate the waters. Just how much of an impact does the stress have? According…
Read moreNational Chapter DEPLOY Fellow Aims to Celebrate People and Create Connections
Meet Quiana. She’s a Veteran Navy spouse, mom of three, and Blue Star Families’ National Chapter DEPLOY Fellow, a position made possible by USAA. With her husband having served 24 years in the Navy, Quiana is intimately aware of the sacrifices military families make every day. In fact, during those 24 years of service, Quiana’s…
Read moreMeet Jamilah: #BSFSurvey
The past year has opened the eyes of many Americans across the nation and inspired important, while sometimes difficult, conversations about the issues of systemic racism that have long corroded our republic and its values. Our military community is certainly familiar with these issues. In fact, according to Blue Star Families’ annual Military Family Lifestyle…
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