Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families and USAA Partner to Expand Support for Military Families

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Oct. 20, 2026 – Advancing Governor Wes Moore's vision of making Maryland the nation's most military-friendly state, the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families (DVMF) and USAA today announced a new partnership that will expand access to critical resources, strengthen community connections and improve support for military-connected families across Maryland.

Through USAA’s Honor Through Action national advocacy movement, this partnership will support the development of Maryland’s first statewide print and digital resource hub for military families raising children with disabilities while also supporting two Maryland Joins Forces Mission Strong Summits focused on resilience and suicide prevention.

USAA’s investment will expand two cornerstone initiatives designed to make it easier for military families to connect with the resources, services and community support they need to thrive in Maryland.

• Creation of "You're Welcome Here" Toolkit & Digital Hub, Maryland’s first statewide print and digital resource designed to help military families raising children with disabilities successfully relocate to Maryland and navigate education, health care, disability and community support services
  
  
• Support of Maryland Joins Forces Mission Strong Summits in fall 2026 and spring 2027, nationally recognized collaborative statewide convenings that bring together military installations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, employers and community leaders to address critical issues affecting Maryland's military-connected community.

Together, these initiatives reflect DVMF's commitment to improving access to resources, strengthening collaboration across sectors and helping military families thrive throughout every stage of military life in Maryland.

“As First Lady and a former military spouse, I am proud to advocate for opportunities that expand resources for our military families and all of Maryland’s children,” said First Lady Dawn Moore. “This partnership with USAA strengthens our communities and uplifts our military families, who every single day carry forward the proud legacy of service that defines our state and our country. Here in Maryland, we remain committed to making sure that our military families are not just seen but supported in every way.”

“Military families deserve clear pathways to the resources and support they need, especially during times of transition,” said Secretary Ed Rothstein, Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. “Through our partnership with USAA, we are strengthening Maryland’s ability to support families raising children with disabilities and expanding collaborative efforts to prevent suicide among service members, veterans and their families.”

“Behind every statistic about military families is a real person — a parent who just completed a PCS move and is back at square one, trying to find the right specialists and services for a child with a disability in an unfamiliar state, or a veteran quietly navigating the hard work of finding their footing again after a lifetime of service,” said Juan C. Andrade, President and CEO of USAA. “This partnership reflects our deepest commitment: that no military family should ever have to face those moments without a community standing behind them.”

As one of the first state-level partnerships established through Honor Through Action, Maryland and USAA are helping demonstrate how strategic collaboration among government, nonprofit organizations, military installations and the private sector can create lasting, measurable improvements for military families. Launched in 2025, Honor Through Action is USAA’s five-year, $500 million commitment addressing some of the most persistent challenges facing the military community. Grounded in three pillars of financial stability, meaningful careers and overall well-being–the movement brings together public- and private-sector partners to identify systemic barriers, develop solutions and advance policies that create lasting change.          

The "You're Welcome Here" Toolkit & Digital Hub, developed through a partnership among DVMF, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, and Parents’ Place of Maryland, will provide military families with children and adults with disabilities with a comprehensive roadmap to Maryland's resources and support systems.

Military families may relocate six to nine times during their K-12 education career, uprooting children from schools, doctors and communities with each permanent change of station (PCS). For military families that include a child or adult with a disability, those transitions can bring additional challenges, including finding new health care providers, connecting with disability services and supports, transferring education plans and navigating unfamiliar systems. Funding from USAA will support the development of print and digital versions of the toolkit, expanding access to these critical resources and supporting the overall well-being of military families across the state.

“Partnering with DVMF and Parents’ Place of Maryland gives us a chance to put our mission into action—to create change so people with developmental disabilities live the lives they want with the support they need,” said Rachel London, Executive Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. “Military families move often, and those moves can be especially challenging for families who need to find new schools, doctors and services. We’re proud to partner with DVMF to make it easier for families to find the support they need and feel at home in their new communities.”

“Military families often face unique challenges while navigating disability services and support systems, and no family should have to face those challenges alone,” said Rene Averitt-Sanzone, Executive Director, The Parents’ Place of Maryland. “Through our partnership with USAA, the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, we are expanding access to meaningful resources and support while advancing our shared commitment to ensuring no military family is left behind.”

USAA’s backing also strengthens DVMF's nationally recognized Maryland Joins Forces initiative by sponsoring two Mission Strong Summits. The fall 2026 summit, held in partnership with Face the Fight, focused on suicide prevention, while the spring 2027 summit will bring together experts and community partners to improve support for military families raising children with disabilities and help them build a strong foundation for their futures in Maryland. The programming aligns with USAA's Honor Through Action mission of supporting the whole service member and family by addressing the barriers to financial security, meaningful careers and overall well-being.

Maryland—home to more than 340,000 veterans and more than 131,000 active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families—continues to invest in innovative partnerships that strengthen support systems for those who serve and for the families who serve alongside them.

Military service is a family commitment, and ensuring those families can successfully transition, connect and thrive is essential to Maryland's commitment to becoming the nation's most military-friendly state. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how public-private partnerships can create meaningful, long-term solutions that improve quality of life for military families while strengthening communities across Maryland.