OneOp | Making a Difference for Military Families

Enhancing Military Cultural Competency

Virginia is home to 27 military bases, with a significant military-connected population. Of the 122,799 active-duty members, 54.3% are married, and 31.9% have civilian partners and children. Among the 25,537 reserve members, 51.7% are married, and 35.9% have civilian partners and children.

Given these demographics, it's essential for VCE agents to be aware of the unique aspects of military service life to effectively support and address the specific barriers and challenges faced by military families.

Extension Relevancy‌

The readiness of military service members is dependent, in part, on their well-being and the well- being of their families. However, military families face unique needs in accessing support services.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has defined the Military Family Readiness System (MFRS) in policy to help address these challenges and barriers. The MFRS is composed of services operated by the DOD and other Federal, State, and community-based agencies, as well as civilian organizations, including Cooperative Extension.

To aid in the effectiveness of the MFRS, DOD policy requires the ongoing training and professional development of military family service providers to support their duties and responsibilities. OneOp's programs can help VCE agents stay updated on the latest research and best practices. By leveraging these resources, agents can enhance their skills, expand their knowledge, and more effectively serve their communities.

Extension Response

VCE partners with eight other universities on OneOp, a free and open-access professional development resource that strengthens the capabilities and impacts of service providers via evidence-informed learning and networking opportunities.

OneOp is the only entity focused on the ongoing growth and development of all service providers from multiple disciplines working with military families across the MFRS.

Project Reach

In 2024, OneOp produced 44 live events and added 59.5 hours of on-demand programming to the online learning library. Two asynchronous courses and 48 podcast episodes were published. A total of 32,631 learners accessed OneOp programming during the year. This includes:

• 5,934 live event attendees‌
• 20,858 on-demand views
• 4,455 course enrollments
• 1,384 podcast downloads

Project Impact

OneOp's Impact Evaluation demonstrates programming and resources aid service providers in reaching their professional development goals.

• 99% of respondents reported learning new information or skills from OneOp programming‌
• 97% of respondents reported using what they learned in their work
• 82% of respondents reported that their program participation improved their professional performance

Feedback

"I've worked as a Financial Counselor for the U.S. Army for the last three years, and I encounter new challenges associated with finances on a regular basis. I use the information gained from OneOp for all those challenges, and it increases my confidence to a higher level than that of my peers."

How to Join

Visit the OneOp site (https://OneOp.org/) to RSVP for an upcoming webinar, watch an on-demand session, listen to a podcast while on the road, or to learn more about how to get engaged with our network and grow your support of our military families!

Primary Contact

Kalin Goble Mathis, OneOp Program Development Specialist, kmgoble@vt.edu