Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• Family Member Medical Summary
• Special Education/Early Intervention Summary

• Authorizing Special Needs Family Members Travel Overseas at Government Expense
• Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Assisted or
  Conducted by the Department of the Army - AR 600-7
• Exceptional Family Member Program - AR 608-75