This panel discussion will focus on policy awareness and leveraging local systems to support military families. Using successful, community-based examples, this panel will show how shared responsibility at the local level supports state and national policy. Representatives from the War Department and Military Service Organizations (MSO) will highlight policy efforts and solutions to real and perceived barriers that service providers encounter when attempting to meet the needs of military families in their communities. Panelists will offer good practices and other guidance for navigating systems and breaking down silos to implement programs and disseminate services among military families, including Guard, Reserve, and other geographically dispersed families.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how shared responsibility is reflected in DOW policies and directives.
- Explain the functional role of Defense State Liaison Officers (DSLOs) and provide illustrations of major policy areas of concern and effort.
- Describe how state-level policy development strengthens community infrastructure.
- Assess community infrastructure capacity across geographic contexts.
- Leverage state-level, regional, and community partnerships to strengthen local systems.
- Guide on increasing MSOs’ community capacity.
