Military-connected teens grow up with remarkable strengths, including resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose. At the same time, the unique challenges they face, such as frequent relocations, deployment cycles, and concerns for a parent’s safety, may increase the likelihood of turning to substances.
Military-connected youth face unique challenges that can hinder their growth—but with the right support, they can thrive. Through a powerful partnership between 4-H and the Department of Defense, these young people are gaining consistent, research-based opportunities to build resilience, develop leadership skills, and shape their futures with confidence—no matter where military life takes them.
One important aspect of financial readiness is being prepared for the unexpected, and that includes natural disasters. With frequent relocations to diverse locations both within the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS), military families make homes in a variety of locales, each with potential for severe weather and natural disasters.
Malnutrition is a global public health crisis affecting millions of people, impacting not only physical health but also mental well-being. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 828 million people were undernourished in 2021, a number that has grown due to rising food and economic crises (FAO, 2022), one of which is food insecurity.
Caregiving in the U.S. is evolving rapidly, and providers play a critical role in ensuring caregivers are equipped, supported, and connected to the right resources. Building on the insights from Caregiving in the U.S., 2025, this blog focuses on how providers can take action, from leveraging technology and expanding respite care to connecting families with financial assistance and advocating for policy reform.
Caregiver coaching is promoted in the field of early intervention to enhance caregivers’ ability to promote their children’s development and learning. In our last blog, we provided an overview of the coaching model in early intervention and provided resources for more information. In this blog we focus on getting started with coaching and the importance of embedding coaching strategies within family routines and activities.
Frequent relocations, limited access to childcare, and job inflexibility continue to make stable employment elusive for military spouses, impacting not just individuals but the resilience of entire families. New state policy initiatives from the Defense State Liaison Office (DSLO) aim to ease these burdens. Just as crucial are support systems for military-connected youth, like the 4-H Military Partnership, which empowers military youth with life skills and stability amidst constant change. Together, these efforts signal a growing commitment to the well-being and readiness of military families nationwide.
[M]ilitary youth who live on base go to school with other youth who are also military-connected, making them inevitably able to relate to each other and understand many of each other’s unique experiences. For military families who live off base, it can sometimes be harder for youth to connect, due to a lack of access to military community members (Kaeppler & Lucier-Greer, 2020; O’Neal et al., 2022).
Military families may experience unique challenges and transitions that deeply influence their day-to-day lives, and these experiences often shape how military-connected youth engage with their communities (Belin, 2025). For Extension professionals and other providers working in youth development, having an understanding of military culture is important for designing and implementing programs that are responsive and impactful.
While building financial skills can be daunting for anyone (at any age), neurodivergence can create unique considerations when learning and acquiring these financial literacy skills. Teaching new skills – whether financial or otherwise – should incorporate individual strengths.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy, U.S. Department of Defense under Award Number 2023-48770-41333.
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