New EFMP program kicks off at base

  • Published
  • By The Airman and Family Readiness Center
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center will be hosting its first Exceptional Family Member Program/Special Needs Kick Off event March 17 at the Malmstrom youth center from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will include speakers from different agencies involved with the program to cover objectives, the roles and responsibilities of each agency and the individual family members, and the enrollment process. There will also be a meet and greet for the agencies and families as well as dinner and a jumpy castle for children.

The purpose of the event is to introduce the new Exceptional Family Member Program. With the demanding needs a sponsor might face regarding an exceptional family member, EFMP resources and the availability of detailed information from on and off base helping agencies will be useful in assisting families.

An exceptional family member is defined as an authorized family member residing with the sponsor who may require special medical or educational services based on a diagnosed physical, intellectual or emotional handicap. An authorized family member may be a spouse, child, stepchild, adopted child, foster child or dependent parent and disabilities may range from mild to severe.

As a part of the program, AFRC initiated the Exceptional Family Member Program newsletter. This newsletter will inform members about the program and all that it has to offer by taking a comprehensive, coordinated, multi-agency approach to information and referral services available on and off base to active duty personnel with family members who have exceptional needs.

Each quarter, the newsletter will offer topics about disabilities, activities, resources, and support groups that the local community has for military families.

Within EFMP/Special Needs, two functions take place. The first is the personnel function in which Family Advocacy in collaboration with the Military Personnel System identifies family members with special needs, documents the services they require and considers those needs when making personnel assignment. It also refers the personnel to medical commands, and the DoD educational system. The second is the support function in which AFRC coordinates on and off base community services and support groups for EFMP families.

Why is the program important? Because our military families are important! To ensure our troops are completing the mission, we have to make sure that services are in place to assist our military families in various situations whether it is a medical, emotional, or physical.

The program took effect in November 2009, when the DoD hosted an EFMP/Special Needs Conference to discuss the support needed for our EFMP/Special Needs families. In doing so, they initiated the new program that was to take effect as soon as guidance was disseminated to the AFRC's.

"We know that we cannot do everything for everybody," said Karan Hilliard, 341st Force Support Squadron community readiness technician, "but we do hope that we can have our EFMP/Special Needs families feel a sense of hope and support from us. We believe that at Malmstrom there is an overwhelming sense of 'no one cares' and we hope to make that disappear. We are limited as to what we can do, but hope that if we cannot directly assist, we can get the EFMP/Special Needs families an agency or person who can."

For additional information, stop by the AFRC in building 1192, or call 731-4900.