Managing the care and services for a family member with special needs can be easier with the right support. The Exceptional Family Member Program strives to help your military family with special needs thrive in military life. EFMP is more than just one program or connection point. It’s the work of three components: Identification and Enrollment, Assignment Coordination and Family Support. EFMP provides resources to support your MilLife journey including special needs consultations and access to a wealth of resources and tools such as EFMP & Me checklists and the Office of Special Needs EFMP podcast series. 

If your spouse, child or other dependent family member is in need of ongoing medical or educational services, your first step is to enroll in EFMP. Enrollment is mandatory and once enrolled, you will have access to the services, support and information that will help you become your family’s best advocate. 

Find out about identification and enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program.

As part of EFMP Identification and Enrollment, EFMP Medical staff on your installation will provide support and help to coordinate identification and enrollment into EFMP. You can also request a referral to TRICARE to request a review for eligibility for the TRICARE Extended Health Care Option which may provided additional medical support services for family members with complex medical needs. 

Learn more about the program and what it provides. 

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Contact the Exceptional Family Member Program Family Support office.

To learn more about EFMP and support available to your family, reach out to your local EFMP Family Support office. EFMP Family Support providers play a critical role in providing information, referral, family needs assessments, and family service plans to help you achieve the goals that are unique to your family. The program connects you with the resources, expert consultation, education and community support you need so you can be your family’s best advocate. 

Get access to services and support in the manner that works best for your family. EFMP Family Support services include: 

  • Face-to-face meetings with EFMP Family Support experts on your installation 
  • Virtual or phone special needs consultations through Military OneSource 
  • Online information and resources on Military OneSource 
  • A digital tool — EFMP & Me — to help families directly access resources tailored to their needs 
  • The Office of Special Needs EFMP podcast series so you can hear from subject matter experts on the go 

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Plan ahead for your next assignment.

Enrollment in EFMP comes with special considerations for military families with special needs. EFMP Family Support providers offer information and referrals, and assist families as they navigate needed medical and educational services at their present, as well as new duty stations. Families can contact their EFMP Family Support provider to request a warm handoff to the gaining installation to ease the PCS transition for military families with special needs. While the military mission is the driving force behind the assignment process, enrollment in EFMP ensures that your family member’s special needs are considered during the assignment coordination process. 

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EFMP strives to continually enhance services and have transparent communication with service members and families with special needs. The program is committed to improving EFMP to establish more standard procedures across the services to make it easier for families to find what they need, when they need it.