LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky is launching its sixth annual Military Family Readiness Academy, a free professional development series designed to help community leaders, service providers and educators better support military families. This year's theme focuses on building the partnerships and community infrastructure needed to more fully help those who serve.

Kentucky's military presence is substantial. The state is home to Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, and ranks 11th nationally for its active-duty military population. More than two-thirds of soldiers at Fort Campbell live off base, making them dependent on local schools, nonprofits and community organizations for everyday support. Across Kentucky, there are 235,000 veterans and more than 34,200 military-connected children and youth, according to UK.

The academy runs throughout August and is hosted through OneOp, an online platform offering research-based learning opportunities for professionals who work with military families. The program is backed by the U.S. Department of Defense's Office of Military Family Readiness Policy and funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

"Military family readiness is strengthened when communities work together to create systems of support," said Nichole Huff, assistant professor in family and consumer sciences extension at UK and principal investigator of the subaward. "Whether a family is dealing with a move, job challenges, childcare needs or access to basic services, strong partnerships make sure they don't have to face those challenges on their own."

The four-week series brings together experts from UK and seven other university partners. Each weekly session tackles different challenges facing military families. The series opens Aug. 5 with a session on building meaningful partnerships and connecting military families to resources, with a focus on National Guard and reserve members. Aug. 12 covers federal nutrition assistance programs and financial readiness tools. Aug. 19 addresses childcare barriers and how they affect military spouses seeking work. The series closes Aug. 26 with a panel discussion on community-based policy.

"The Military Family Readiness Academy gives service providers practical strategies they can use right away," said Kristen Jowers, Extension specialist for OneOp at UK. "What makes this series especially valuable is the chance to learn alongside professionals from across the country."

All sessions are free and available online with flexible, self-paced options. Continuing education credits are available at no cost. To register, visit oneop.org.