PROMISE 2026 | Partners in PROMISE

From Insight to Action: PROMISE 2026 After-Action Summary

PROMISE 2026 brought together leaders from across the Department of War, policy, research, and the military support community for a focused, data-driven conversation on improving outcomes for military families navigating special education and healthcare systems.

Hosted at the University of Notre Dame in Washington, D.C., this invitation-only convening aligned decision-makers and advocates around one shared priority: ensuring continuity, access, and equity—no matter where a military family is stationed.

The Challenge

Military families raising children with disabilities navigate systems that do not move with them. Each relocation can mean delayed services, disrupted care, inconsistent implementation of supports

The result: gaps that directly impact a child’s progress—and a family’s stability and readiness.

Download inital findings from our 2025 Survey

What Happened at PROMISE 2026

Data Met Lived Experience

New findings from Partners in PROMISE’s national survey were shared alongside real stories from military families—connecting trends to real-world impact.

Cross-Sector Leaders at the Table

Participants included leaders from:

Department of War
Policy and legislative offices
Research institutions
Military-serving nonprofits

From Awareness to Action

Discussions focused on identifying practical, systems-level solutions—not just challenges.

Urgent Priorities Identified

Three urgent themes emerged from the convening—each with direct implications for military family stability and mission readiness:

PCS-Related Educational Disruption: mobility cannot continue to mean instability for children with disabilities.
Caregiver Burden on Military Spouses: when systems fail, military spouses step in. This burden impacts family stability, mental health, and workforce participation.
EFMP Implementation & Consistency: Military families should be able to rely on consistent, effective support—no matter where they are stationed.

Awards

Legacy Award

The Legacy Award recognizes a corporation that has made a sustained and transformative impact on our community. This award celebrates years of partnership, advocacy, and innovation that have advanced our mission and changed outcomes for military families.

The Partners in PROMISE Board has selected USAA as the recipient of the first Legacy Award after reviewing candidates across all three award categories.

Torchbearer Award

The Torchbearer Award recognizes individuals who have advanced PiP’s mission within the Department of Defense and the MSO/VSO community. Torchbearers are mentors, leaders, and connectors who amplify the voices of military families with special needs and open doors for change through their advocacy and example.

Mrs. Sharene Brown

Mrs. Christine Grady

The Partners in PROMISE Board has selected Mrs. Sharene Brown and Mrs. Christine Grady as the co-recipients of the first Torchbearer Award. We are truly honored to recognize their extraordinary contributions through this award. Their advocacy has played a vital role in elevating the voices of military families and shaping a brighter path for exceptional military children.

Unsung Hero Award

The Unsung Hero Award honors a military or veteran family that embodies advocacy, collaboration, and service to others. Despite the personal challenges of caregiving, these families go above and beyond, amplifying the voices of others, pushing for systemic change, and working to ensure military children with disabilities have a stronger quality of life and brighter future.

The Partners in PROMISE Board has selected Mr. Jeremy Hilton as the recipient of the first Unsung Hero Award. The board is truly honored to recognize Jeremy’s extraordinary contributions through this Unsung Hero Award. His selfless determination to stand for military families has made a profound impact, building a stronger future for exceptional military children.