On November 7, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) (uwm211.org), Offutt Air Force Base, the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and community partners came together to celebrate the launch of the Military and Family Helpline – marking a significant step forward in support of military-connected individuals and their families.

This innovative collaboration seeks to strengthen support for veterans and active-duty military and their dependents by leveraging existing community resources and infrastructure. With nearly 70% of active-duty service members and their families living off-base, the need for robust quality-of-life support systems that extend beyond military installations is critical. The Military and Family Helpline aims to bridge this gap by providing confidential information and referral assistance to veterans, retirees, active/guard/reserve service members, civilian personnel and their families 24/7/365.

The Helpline utilizes UWM’s existing 211 Helpline to connect users to trained resource specialists who provide live support and tailored personal navigation services – helping them find resources for needs such as food, housing, healthcare, childcare and employment. As part of the partnership agreement, a dedicated navigator will also operate both on-base and at UWM to offer assistance – effectively braiding veteran, installation and community-based resources to meet needs.

“The launch of the Military and Family Helpline highlights the Omaha-metro community’s commitment to supporting our military, creating a robust support system for service members and their families,” said Shawna Forsberg, President and CEO, United Way of the Midlands.

For more information on the Military and Family Helpline, go to uwm211.org/militaryfamilyhelpline.