Module 1 Topic 5
Building Your Military-School Support Network
No Point of Contact should work in isolation.
In Topic 4, you explored your role as the Purple Star School Point of Contact and the importance of serving as a connector rather than trying to become the answer to every question.
That role becomes much more effective when you know the people, programs, and organizations available to support military-connected students and families.
This topic will help you begin building that network.
Your Network Is One of Your Most Important Tools
Military-connected families often interact with systems that extend beyond the school building. Depending on their circumstances, they may need information or assistance related to relocation, enrollment, special education, military family services, installation resources, or educational transition.
The Purple Star School Point of Contact does not need to master every military program or service. Instead, the POC should understand the purpose of key partners and know when a connection may be helpful.
Know Who to Call
A strong Point of Contact may not know every answer immediately.
What matters is being able to say:
"I know who can help us with that."
That is the value of a well-developed support network.
Start With Your School Liaison
Meet Your School Liaison
Military School Liaisons are important partners for schools serving military-connected students and families.
School Liaisons help connect military installations, families, schools, districts, and community partners. They can provide information, help identify resources, support communication, and assist with education-related questions connected to military life.
Depending on the military branch or installation, titles and organizational structures may vary. However, the purpose is similar: helping military families and educational communities navigate the intersection between military life and K-12 education.
When Should a POC Contact a School Liaison?
A School Liaison may be an appropriate partner when you need assistance with:
- understanding military installation resources;
- connecting with military families or installation programs;
- education-related questions involving military transitions;
- strengthening communication between a school and a military installation;
- identifying military family support programs;
- locating professional learning or military-connected student resources;
- supporting school-installation partnerships;
- helping an incoming or departing military family identify educational resources; or
- determining which military program or office may be best positioned to assist.
Build the relationship before you need it.
Do not wait until a complex situation arises to introduce yourself to your School Liaison.
A brief introduction, exchange of contact information, and understanding of one another's roles can make future communication much more efficient.
School Liaison and Purple Star POC: Different Roles, Shared Goals
| Purple Star School POC | School Liaison |
|---|---|
| Works primarily within the school or district environment. | Works primarily within or on behalf of the military installation or military community. |
| Coordinates school-based Purple Star practices and resources. | Connects military families and installations with schools and educational systems. |
| Helps staff and families navigate school-based resources. | Helps families and schools navigate military education-related resources. |
| Builds relationships across school departments. | Builds relationships across military, school, district, and community systems. |
| Maintains awareness of military-connected students within the school community. | Provides broader military-community knowledge and installation-specific connections. |
The relationship works best when both roles communicate and collaborate rather than operate separately.
What Is EFMP?
Exceptional Family Member Program
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a Department of Defense program designed to support military families who have family members with special medical or educational needs.
Although program structure and services may vary by military branch, EFMP generally helps military families coordinate access to services, resources, and support connected to those needs.
For a Purple Star School Point of Contact, the most important takeaway is not learning every EFMP procedure.
The important takeaway is understanding that EFMP exists and may be an important connection for some military families.
Your Role Is Awareness and Connection
The Purple Star School POC should not attempt to become an EFMP specialist or provide medical, legal, or specialized special education guidance outside the scope of the school role.
Instead, the POC should:
- recognize when a family may benefit from additional military-family support;
- know how to locate the appropriate EFMP or military family resource;
- connect families with qualified school or military personnel; and
- help maintain communication when coordination between systems is needed.
EFMP and the School System
EFMP and school-based special education services are separate systems with different responsibilities.
A school's obligations regarding special education, Section 504, enrollment, evaluation, records, and services remain governed by applicable federal and state education requirements and local procedures.
EFMP may provide an additional military-family support connection, but it does not replace the role of the school, district special education personnel, or other qualified professionals.
| If the Family Needs... | Consider Connecting With... |
|---|---|
| School-based special education information | School or district special education staff |
| Information about military EFMP resources | Installation or service-branch EFMP personnel |
| Help understanding military education resources | School Liaison |
| Enrollment or school records questions | Registrar, enrollment staff, or district office |
| MIC3-related education questions | School/district leadership, MIC3 resources, School Liaison, or appropriate state contact |
Your Network Extends Beyond the Installation
An effective POC develops relationships across several layers of support.
School-Based Partners
- administrators;
- registrars and enrollment personnel;
- school counselors;
- teachers;
- special education staff;
- school nurses;
- student leadership or transition program sponsors;
- communications and website staff; and
- district-level personnel.
Military Partners
- School Liaisons;
- Exceptional Family Member Program personnel;
- installation family support programs;
- military youth programs;
- Guard and Reserve family support resources;
- installation community outreach personnel; and
- other military education or family-support representatives.
State and Community Partners
- Arizona Department of Education resources;
- Arizona Purple Star School Program resources;
- Military Interstate Children's Compact resources;
- community organizations;
- local colleges or universities;
- youth-serving organizations; and
- other community agencies serving military-connected families.
The Power of a Warm Handoff
There is an important difference between giving someone a phone number and helping them make a meaningful connection.
When appropriate, a POC can help create a warm handoff.
What Is a Warm Handoff?
A warm handoff means helping connect one person directly with another rather than simply directing them elsewhere.
For example:
Instead of: "Here is the School Liaison's contact information."
Consider: "Our School Liaison may be able to help with this. With your permission, I can introduce you by email so you know who to contact."
This approach can reduce confusion, improve communication, and help families feel connected rather than redirected.
A warm handoff should always respect school procedures, privacy requirements, family preferences, and the appropriate boundaries of the POC role.
Build Relationships Before Challenges Arise
Strong networks are built proactively.
Consider introducing yourself to your partners before you need their assistance.
- Send an introductory email to your School Liaison.
- Meet your registrar and enrollment staff.
- Introduce yourself to your special education contact.
- Know which administrator supports your Purple Star work.
- Identify district-level contacts who may assist with enrollment, MIC3, or policy questions.
- Locate your nearest military installation or military-community resources.
- Identify the military family programs available in your area.
A network built during calm moments becomes invaluable during complicated ones.
POC Activity: Build Your Military-School Contact Network
Complete Your Contact Map
Use this section to identify the people and organizations you should know as your school's Point of Contact.
School and District Contacts
- School Administrator:
- Registrar / Enrollment Contact:
- School Counselor:
- Special Education Contact:
- School Nurse:
- Student Leadership / Transition Contact:
- Communications / Website Contact:
- District-Level Contact:
Military Contacts
- Primary Military Installation or Community:
- School Liaison:
- School Liaison Email / Phone:
- EFMP Contact or Resource:
- Military Family Support Program:
- Military Youth Program:
- Guard / Reserve Family Resource, if applicable:
State and Community Contacts
- Arizona Purple Star School Resource:
- MIC3 Resource:
- Community Organization:
- Additional Local Partner:
Action Step: Identify at least one person on this list whom you have not yet met and make an introduction.
Three Questions to Ask Every Partner
When meeting a new partner, you do not need a complicated agenda.
Start with three simple questions:
- What is your role?
- What types of questions or situations should I contact you about?
- What resources should I know about as a Purple Star School Point of Contact?
These questions quickly clarify roles, reduce duplication, and help establish professional relationships.
Know When to Refer
A strong Point of Contact also recognizes when an issue should be referred to someone with specialized authority or expertise.
| Situation | POC Role |
|---|---|
| A family asks for a legal interpretation of MIC3. | Provide approved resources and connect the question with the appropriate district, state, MIC3, or legal authority. |
| A parent raises a special education concern. | Connect the parent with qualified school or district special education personnel. |
| A family asks about military medical services. | Refer the family to the appropriate military or healthcare resource rather than providing medical guidance. |
| A student concern involves safety or mental health. | Follow school procedures immediately and involve qualified personnel. |
| A family needs information about installation services. | Connect them with the School Liaison or appropriate installation program. |
Avoid the Referral Loop
"You need to call someone else."
Families can become frustrated when they are repeatedly redirected from one office to another.
The Point of Contact can help reduce this referral loop by identifying the most appropriate resource before making the connection.
When possible, clarify:
- what the family is trying to accomplish;
- which organization actually owns the issue;
- whether the family has already contacted someone; and
- whether a direct introduction could simplify the next step.
A Network Should Be Current
Military and school personnel change. Phone numbers change. Programs evolve. Websites move.
A contact list that is never reviewed eventually becomes unreliable.
Consider reviewing your Purple Star contact network at least annually and whenever you become aware of personnel changes.
POC Reflection
Think about your current network.
- Who is the military partner I am most comfortable contacting?
- Which relationship do I still need to establish?
- Which school department should be more closely connected to our Purple Star efforts?
- Is our School Liaison's contact information current?
- Would another staff member know where to find these contacts if I were unavailable?
Key Takeaways
- No Purple Star Point of Contact should work in isolation.
- Your School Liaison can be one of your most important military education partners.
- EFMP is an important military-family resource for families with special medical or educational needs.
- The POC's responsibility is generally to recognize, connect, coordinate, and refer—not to become a specialist in every program.
- Strong relationships should be built before complicated situations arise.
- Warm handoffs can help families navigate systems more effectively.
- Your contact network should be shared, accessible, and reviewed regularly.
Coming Next: Building Military Awareness Across Your School
Knowing your partners gives you access to a strong support network. The next step is ensuring that military-connected student awareness does not remain only with the Point of Contact.
In Module 1, Topic 6, you will explore how to build military awareness across your school, strengthen staff knowledge, share responsibility, and develop Purple Star practices that can continue even when personnel change.
The goal is to move from one informed Point of Contact to an informed school community.