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Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) provides comprehensive support to Family members with special needs. EFMP takes an all-inclusive approach to coordinate military and civilian community, educational, medical, housing, and personnel services to help Soldiers and their Families with special needs.

Staff Recognition

Ms. Linda Moseley, Installation Exceptional Family Member Program Family and MWR, Army Community Service USAG Presidio of Monterey, CA, was presented the "Hero of the Week" award in the Commander's Updated Brief.

Linda increased productivity of the EFMP Steering Committee by creating a multi-disciplinary support team which includes all service branches (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard), thereby addressing broader EFMP issues and reducing substantiated cases of negative behavior by 65%.

She coordinates with the local community for adaptive aquatics and therapeutic horseback riding therapy for over 167 beneficiaries at no cost to the military. This program has increased the quality of life for over 300 enrollees.

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The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) provides comprehensive support to Family members with special needs. An Exceptional Family Member is a Family member with any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling, and meets the eligibility criteria. EFMP pertains to active-duty Soldiers, US Army Reserve Soldiers in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Program, and Army National Guard AGR personnel serving under authority of 10 USC or 32 USC. Department of the Army Civilians do not enroll in the program.

EFMP takes an all-inclusive approach to coordinating military and civilian community, educational, medical, housing, and personnel services to help Soldiers and their Families with special needs. Enrollment in EFMP includes a wide array of benefits, detailed in the EFMP Benefits Fact Sheet.

EFMP enrollment does not adversely affect promotions, schools, or assignments. EFMP information is not made available to selection boards.

Soldiers with Exceptional Family Members are required to register for EFMP and keep enrollment information current. That way, Family needs will be considered during the OCONUS assignments process. If you’re eligible for EFMP services, Family members must be screened and enrolled when they accompany authorized Soldiers on OCONUS assignments. Screenings include a medical records review for all Family members and developmental screening for all children 72 months and younger. (Special education needs are considered only in assignments outside the United States. Assignments within the US and its territories are not based on the educational needs of children.)

For more information about EFMP and helpful articles about the program, look at the Enterprise EFMP site. After that, contact the installation EFMP manager at your local Army Community Service (ACS) office. To learn more about medical enrollment, see the Program Overview.

 

EFMP Resources

Here are some helpful resources for EFMP Families.

(Government Links)

  • Systems Navigators. Systems navigators are ACS EFMP staff members available on most Army installations. They assist EFMP Families with navigating through the available systems of care.​​​​
  • EFMP Newsletter. The Exceptional Advocate is the DoD’s EFMP newsletter, which includes helpful information and resources.
  • Military OneSouce. Military OneSource’s EFMP & Me tool allows Families to explore the details of EFMP benefits and processes.
  • DirectSTEP. DirectSTEP® eCourses are available for free to Soldiers and Family Members, Army EFMP staff, and Special Education staff associated with teaching military children. DirectSTEP® eCourses teach staff, parents, and educators how to handle critical education issues to obtain positive outcomes.
  • Respite Care Support. The Army’s Respite Care Support services provide a temporary rest period for Family members responsible for regular care of persons with disabilities. Care may be provided in the EFM respite care user’s home.

(Non-Government Links, No Endorsement Implied)

  • Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR). CPIR serves as a central resource of information and products to the community of Parent Training Information (PTI) Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers, so they can focus their efforts on serving Families of children with disabilities. 
  • American Camp Association (ACA). The ACA is a community of camp professionals who join together to share their knowledge and experience and ensure the quality of camp programs, including those for Exceptional Family Members.

 

What is an Exceptional Family Member (EFM)?

An Exceptional Family Member is a Family Member (child or adult) with physical, emotional, developmental or an intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training of counseling – anything outside of regular family practice care.

Who must enroll in the program?

Soldiers* with Exceptional Family Members are required to register for EFMP and keep enrollment information current. This ensures that the family's needs will be considered during the OCONUS assignments process.

If you’re eligible for EFMP services, Family members must be screened and enrolled when they accompany authorized Soldiers on OCONUS assignments. Screenings include medical records review for all Family members and developmental screening for all children aged 72 months and younger.

For more information about EFMP, contact the EFMP point of contact through your nearest Army medical treatment facility:

 *Who must enroll in the program?
      (1) Active Army
      (2) U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Soldiers in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Program
      (3) Army National Guard (ARNG) AGR personnel serving under authority of 10 USC and 32 USC. Department of the Army civilian employees do not enroll in the program.

You must identify dependent children with special education and medically-related service needs and ,Family members with medical needs each time they process for an assignment to a location outside the United States where Family member travel is authorized at Government expense.

Overview of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

The mission of the Exceptional Family Member Program is to improve the quality of life of Families that have a Family Member with a special need and ensure continuum of care for eligible Family Members. The program is funded from the Military Service branches for their Service Member’s beneficiaries. The EFMP Manager will meet with Families to address individual needs and concerns. She will be able to provide extensive information for all questions concerning your exceptional Family Member needs.

The program is available and open to all Service Members and their Families. Activities and Program events such as the monthly Support Group held on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. (a featured guest speaker, followed by a facilitated support group and free child care on site provided by Attitude Habilitation Services). There are monthly children’s and adult programs, volunteer meetings, activities which range from horseback riding, bowling, swimming, outdoor programs, tours, museums etc. and at no cost and open to all. All participants must be registered with the EFMP program. These programs are excellent opportunities for Families to enjoy and interact with others and participate in amazing events.

Mandatory Enrollment Forms
Regulations related to EFMP
From your EFMP Manager

Welcome to the Presidio of Monterey!

 When meeting with the EFMP Manager for the first time, bring any documentation that relates to the special needs of your Family Member. We will be ready to serve you with an extensive knowledge and provide assistance based on your personal situation.  We can help you consider requesting an evaluation for a child who is struggling in school for one reason or another, no matter if it is your first Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting or a request for an update.

This can be a challenging time as you try to navigate through the Federal, State & local laws and policies. We can provide you with sample letters to school officials, prepare you for what to expect from the process, and assist you in maintaining thorough and usable records. You will receive information on your rights and responsibilities and also on preparing you to be your child's best advocate. Since the IEP process can be challenging at times, she will attend meetings with you.

Conversely, as you prepare to leave Presidio of Monterey, we can aid in that transition as well by contacting your gaining installation to make arrangements for EFMP services on the other end, allowing for continuity of care. We will also help to ensure that your home records are complete and ready for the move; providing you with a checklist and copies of needed documents.

Please note our primary goal is to ensure your that your Exceptional Family Member has a comprehensive and coordinated program best suited to their needs.

We look forward to the opportunity to serve you and your Family Members!