Equipping military service providers to strengthen family financial security

Soldier working with laptop at wooden table indoors

Equipping military service providers to strengthen family financial security

Story, Youth, Family, and Communities , , , , , , , ,

Kentucky ranks 11th nationally for active-duty military personnel, with approximately 44,000 service members across the Commonwealth and more than 295,000 veterans calling Kentucky home. While military families benefit from the Department of Defense’s Military Family Readiness System, the effectiveness of this network depends on well-trained professionals equipped with current, research-based tools and resources. 

To strengthen this workforce, the OneOp Personal Finance Collaboration Team, housed within Family and Consumer Sciences Extension at the University of Kentucky, partnered with national subject matter experts and the Department of Defense to expand high-quality professional development opportunities. Funded by USDA-NIFA and led by the primary award institution, Auburn University, the team delivered 14.5 hours of certified training between July 2024 and June 2025. 

Programming included nine national webinars and one asynchronous course covering topics such as debt management, tax updates, flexible spending accounts, domestic financial abuse, recovery capital and military-specific financial tools. The team also developed the Military Family Readiness Academy course, published 19 research-based blogs and a peer-reviewed journal article and recorded two national podcasts. 

As a result, more than 2,317 military service providers earned 3,475.5 continuing education credits. Webinars averaged 144 live participants and generated more than 2,700 on-demand views. The webinar, Leveraging PowerPay: An Extension Tool for Debt Management, resulted in 83% of participants reporting their intention to make changes to their work. 91% of participants in Building Recovery Capital with Military Families reported gaining new skills, while 93% learned about new resources. 

By strengthening the capacity of military financial educators nationwide, this initiative improves service member readiness, reduces financial stress and supports long-term economic stability for military families.

View the full statement on the NIDB.

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service | Project supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) capacity funds.

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