military wives efmp question please help or if you cant help please bump

[mommam58122]

 I know it stands for Exceptional Family Member Plan but what does it actually do to help that family member? my daughter is devolpementally delayed she went to the developmental pedi yesterday and i was told she is hyper kenesis due to delay but due to me having adhd she is at a higher risk of having adhd the dr told me to go get her enrolled in efmp immeadently so my question is what does efmp do exactly? well it help my dh have a better chance to get off work for appts or what i dont know much about it i was hopeing you or someone here would im just curious im enrolling her as soon as hubby gets to come home for lunch then im going to take him back to work and go enroll her and i know my younger dd will have to be enrolled as well  but we are still finding out what is wrong with dd 2 thanks for any info ladies

[ladyraven16]

Army Exceptional Family Member Program

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is based on Public Law 94-142 which entitles handicapped children to free education and all medically related services in pursuit of education. The EFMP includes all family members with special medical and educational needs.

Soldiers enroll through their local Army medical treatment facility. The military sponsor and the attending medical or educational specialist complete enrollment forms. The completed forms are forwarded to the regional EFMP team to review and forward this information to PERSCOM. Exceptional Family Member enrollment needs to be reviewed at least every three years.

When a soldier who is enrolled in the EFMP is nominated for assignment, PERSCOM will coordinate with the gaining command to determine if services are available. When services are not available, PERSCOM considers alternative assignment locations based on existing assignment priorities or sends the soldier in an unaccompanied status.

The EFMP policies are as follows:

o Exceptional Family Member Program information is not maintained in local or DA level files that are viewed by selection boards or assignment managers.

o All soldiers with assignment instructions for outside the continental U.S. who elect to request dependent travel must have family members medically and educationally screened and, if required, enrolled in the EFMP. This process should be initiated within 30 days of receipt of assignment instructions.

o Deletion from assignment instructions is not granted solely because of a soldier's enrollment in the EFMP. The EFMP program is designed to be an assignment consideration, if pre-enrolled, and not an assignment limitation. Soldiers could be reassigned to an "all others tour" to meet Army requirements.

o Deferment for soldiers with family members enrolled in the EFMP is granted when family travel decisions from the gaining command are not finalized.

o The governing regulation is AR 608-75, Exceptional Family Member Program, dated May 1996

 

The EFMP recognizes and understands that it is the spouse of the Active Duty Marine who bares a lot of the work and stress when caring for a special needs child or other family member. Because of the Active Duty family member's Marine Corps duties and frequent deployments spouses often make and attend appointments, coordinate home medical care, attend and negotiate goals and services at special education meetings and do most of the research about their child or family member"s condition. The EFMP Coordinator does provide family support services to spouses and other DEERS eligible family members. When an Active Duty Marine is deployed or TAD family members can complete and submit the EFMP enrollment paperwork  and are always welcome to call and schedule an appointment at any time with the EFMP Coordinator.

It can take a family from 6 to 9 months to identify and access medical, special education and other services in a new State. The EFMP Coordinator can provide you with applicable with local and State information and also he/she can help families coping with a new diagnosis - understand and learn the local, State and Federal programs and organizations that assist and support families with special needs. 

EFMP Coordinators

EFMP Coordinators have established a framework for effective communication and collaboration between families and professionals, between TRICARE and public healthcare systems, among agencies at the State and community levels and among public agencies and voluntary organizations. Installation EFMP Coordinators are here to help you before, during and after relocating and offer support to you during your tour of duty.

Your installation EFMP   exists not only to assist families with enrolling/re-enrolling in the EFMP but also can serve not only as an advocate on behalf of EFMP families but also as a vital link between exceptional families and Federal, State and local resources. 

EFMP Coordinators are also familiar with:

• Federal, State Laws, DoD Instructions, Marine Corps Orders, Publications and Directives and base regulations affecting individuals with disabilities
• Early Interventions Services (EIS) and Education & Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS)
• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
• Inclusion
• DoDEA
• Life Planning Decisions
• Financial resources & medical assistance programs & waivers
• Resources & Referrals

EFMP Coordinators can also coordinate and support:

• Parent Training Events
• Installation Disability Committee
• Support Groups
• EFMP Family Events

Confidentiality

Enrolled families often ask questions about information confidentiality when the EFMP Manager visits installations. Families want to know that their medical information is kept private and is not shared with non-essential personnel. The Marine Corps EFMP handles all medical and educational information with the strictest confidentiality. Local EFMP Coordinators provide unit Commanders with the following information regarding Marines enrolled or pending enrollment in the EFMP. This information is limited to:

• Name of Sponsor
• Social Security Number
• Grade of Sponsor
• Military Occupational Specialty
• EFMP Category
• Date of enrollment/Date of Most Recent Update

This information does not include the specific medical or special education condition of the EFM since this information is strictly confidential.

Information regarding an EFMP enrollment will appear in the EFM health records, the HQMC EFMP registry and the database of the appropriate assignment branch. The case file kept by the EFMP Coordinator will be kept strictly confidential. EFMP registry shall not become an element of the Manpower Management System, individual record books or the parent command records of the sponsor nor be referenced in performance appraisals such as Fitness Reports.

If you have any questions regarding the confidentiality of your EFMP information please email the EFMP Office at your duty station.

 

I don't know anything about it personally but here are some things I found. GL

[bluesky51201]

We're possibly going to be going down this road soon.  The only thing I really know about it is that if the services the child needs are not within a reasonable distance from the base that it makes it easier to get a PCS.  I don't really know about the appointment thing because my DH goes to all of our son's appointments and school meetings. 

[twinmamaof3]

My twins are enrolled in efmp (11 week early premiees) Funny enough I got a phone call yesterday from efmp saying that my oldest since he has a iep he needs to be enrolled immediately.  I am enrolled in this program myslef.  All I know is if hubby gets orders to go somewhere where they dont have a medical facility within a certain distance he will get new orders.  (I have to see a spec due to kidney disease)

[lovemyfamily722]

EFMP is there to help those who have special needs or disabilities.  They can help find services to assist the family member.  They give information about different programs available.  The have support groups, classes, and events just for EFMP families.  Ours is helping us with getting our son into school. 

 If you need help, feel free to message me!

[adamjackie]

My son is EFMP and along with what all the other ladies said it can also help you get into housing faster if there is a wait.