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The new Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) portal is live. Please call the VMSDEP Office at (804) 225-2083 or email at VMSDEP@dvs.virginia.gov if you have any issues accessing your account.

Military Spouse Support

The Virginia Military Spouse Liaison serves as the Commonwealth’s military spouse advocate. The liaison conducts outreach and provides advocacy for military spouses and their families.  The liaison also works with key stakeholders within federal, state, local government, military installations, and the private sector to develop and implement a resource system to provide access to licensure reciprocity, employment, benefits, childcare, and community resources.

Questions regarding Military Spouse Support may be directed to milspouse@dvs.virginia.gov.

Sign-up for the Military Spouse newsletter here.

Previous Newsletters:

 

MILITARY SPOUSE CENTERED LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS

Virginia

  • SB 1150: Military Spouse Liaison; position created in Department of Veterans Services, report. (2021)
  • HB 2161 & SB 1410 (identical bills): Active military or a military spouse; prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and employment. (2021)
  • HB 967 & SB 981 (identical bills): Military service members and veterans; expediting issuance of credentials to spouses, application. Credentials and licensures covered by Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, including the Department of Health Professions (DHP) and Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). (2020)
  • HB 230 & SB 154 (identical bills): expedited issuance of teaching profession licensure with Board of Education for military spouses. (2022)
  • HB 957: Classification of real property owned by certain surviving spouses for tax purposes. (2022)
  • Universal Licensing Recognition (ULR) will apply to all individual licenses regulated by DPOR except for architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. ULR does not recognize other states’ occupational licenses automatically. Workers licensed in others states who move to Virginia still must apply for a license through the appropriate DPOR board before working in the Commonwealth. (2023)

Federal

  • SCRA License Portability Provision (January 2023) provides that servicemembers and military spouses can have their out-of-state licenses recognized as valid in the new state while they are stationed there as long as they meet certain requirements. U.S. Department of Justice SCRA License Portability Factsheet
  • Strengthening America’s Military Families Report: Joining Forces and the National Security Council’s report on the Biden-Harris administration’s government-wide commitment to those who also serve: military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.

Proposed 2023 legislations from the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations in support of Virginia veterans and military families.

MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

VDVS Military Spouse Resource Guide

VDVS MILITARY SPOUSE RESOURCES/BENEFITS

Military Education & Workforce Initiative (MEWI) Laptop Initiative: Are you a student veteran or spouse attending Reynolds Community College or Brightpoint Community College? Reach out to your VERITAS representative to express interest in the MEWI Laptop Initiative!

How to obtain a free laptop:

  1. Complete Technology Assistance Application
  2. Provide Proof of Service/Marriage (Spouses)

Applications are reviewed, approved and distributed on a first come-first serve basis until all laptops are distributed.

*The Veteran & Spouse Technology Initiative by the Military Education and Workforce Initiative (MEWI) is sponsored by Altria.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service. Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard. Click here for information on how to apply.

Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program (VVFS) is operated statewide by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and provides outreach, connection and support to veterans and their families as they address the challenges of military service, transition, deployments, post traumatic stress or other behavioral health concerns as well as traumatic brain injuries and physical injuries. Click here for more information on spouse resources.

Military Spouse Healthcare Professionals Path – Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) Program advocates for Military Spouses looking to start or continue a career in Virginia’s healthcare system. The MMAC team is an employment resource, a source of credentialing information, and designed to set you up for success and potential employment at MMAC Partner Healthcare Systems and Virginia Values Veterans Certified Healthcare Employers statewide. Click here to learn more about the program and apply.

Transition Connection Newsletter  – If you are a transitioning service member, Veteran or spouse looking for employment, sign up for the V3 Transition Newsletter called the Transition Connection. V3 Transition collects job postings from employers looking to hire veterans and spouses and sends them out once each week to our list of subscribers. Each posting will host a unique set of job openings for all levels of occupations all across the Commonwealth. We also include upcoming events for you as well and key information you need to know as a Virginia Veteran or military spouse. In order to join the subscription list, click here.

CHILD CARE RESOURCES

  • Childcare Development Centers (CDC) and Family Child Care (FCC)/Child Development Home (CDH) providers  for information/availability at CDC and FCC/CDH providers by location. Secure Department of Defense (DoD) website provides a single gateway for you to find comprehensive information on military-operated or military-approved child care programs worldwide. With MilitaryChildCare.com, you create an account and maintain a household profile that you can access at any time from any location.
  • Child Care Aware of Virginia is a community-based network of child care and early education specialists. We deliver services to families, child care professionals and communities, working to increase the accessibility, availability and quality of child care in Virginia. Request Child Care Referrals via online form or by calling 1-866-543-7852 and selecting Option 2.
  • Child Care Virginia provides a comprehensive repository of resources and information to make choosing safe, quality child care easier for parents. ChildCareVA also exists to inform caretakers about the benefits of becoming a licensed child care provider or subsidy provider, and keep current providers up-to- date on the latest news and requirements.
  • Child Care Aware® of America is a national organization contracted to administer the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood, or MCCYN, a Department of Defense fee assistance program available to qualifying families. This program pays a portion of child care costs on behalf of families who are unable to access installation child care.
  • Military OneSource – Child Care offers free access to a national database of more than a million caregivers so they can find hourly, flexible and on-demand child care.
  • Armed Services YMCA provides innovative, interactive programs and services designed especially for junior-enlisted service members, their spouses and their children—all who sacrifice so much for us and our country. Also provide experiences to help navigate military life amidst transfers, deployments, increased child care needs and financial burdens. Programs are offered at no or low cost and require no membership fees.
  • Kids Priority One – Hampton Roads provides free information and referral service for families in the Hampton Roads Area via website and by calling the Information Line at 757-CHILDREN (757-244-5373) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. After hours and on weekends, 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373).
  • Operation Child Care – Norfolk – The first of its kind Military Child Care Search tool is here! Start searching child care to fit your unique needs now. Locations include: Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads Northwest Annex.
  • Child Tax Credit is a one-stop-shot for information about the CTC, including information about how non-filers can sign up for payments.
  • Ready SWVA Workforce Development Initiative – Coming soon to the Southwest Virginia Region! In the 2022-24 state budget, the General Assembly allocated $3.5 million to the Ready SWVA initiative, although UWSWVA sought $14 million over two years. The United Way chapter is using the state funding to secure a child care operator for what will be its hub, which will serve more than 300 children up to age 5 and create 62 positions at a base pay of $15 per hour.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND CREDENTIALING

  • Department of Health Professions 
  • Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
  • Virginia Department of Education
  • Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
  • Licensure Reimbursement Program: The specific policy and reimbursement procedures vary by service branch. Each service branch may offer up to $1,000 in reimbursement per move for spouses who move within the United States or OCONUS to stateside due to a PCS and want to hold the same license or certification in their new location. Spouses of both active-duty and Reserve Component service members are eligible for this benefit if their members are serving on active duty.
  • Military OneSource – MyCAA: The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides eligible military spouse with up to $4,000 in financial assistance for licenses, certifications, national tests or associated degrees to pursue and occupation or career field.
  • Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF): Also known as Onward to Opportunity (O2O), is a free career training program that provides professional certification and employee support services to transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. O2O combines industry-validated curricula, strong partnerships with leading veteran service organizations and private sector companies, and comprehensive career coaching services to prepare and match you with your next career.

MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD 2023

PURPLE UP DAY – April 19, 2023: Join VDVS and VDOE in wearing purple on April 19 to show your appreciation for the 200,000 military children that call Virginia home. Purple represents the combination of all of the Armed Forces colors: Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard (blue), Army (green), and Marine Corps (red).

Military Spouse Liaison Newsletter – MOMC Edition – Military child resources, information, events at the various military installations and in the community.