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Security Levels
Office of Work-Life Programs -
Special Needs Program
Who is Eligible for this Program?
The Special Needs Program is available to the following
members of Team Coast Guard:
- Active Duty, Retirees and their dependents
- Civil Service employees and their dependents
- Reservists on active duty over 180 days
Purpose of Program
The Special Needs Program is intended to ensure family and
Coast Guard needs are met, assist the member with appropriate referral and
resources before, during and after relocation, and ensure mission
readiness. The program works closely with assignment officers, prior to
transfer, to ensure appropriate resources are available for family members
in proposed areas of relocation. All active duty members who have family
members with professionally diagnosed special needs are required to enroll
their dependents in this program.
Definitions
The following definitions apply to the Special Needs Program:
Special Needs are long-term and professionally documented medical, educational, physical, psychological and mental condition(s). Such conditions may include, but are not limited to:
- Vision, hearing or speech impaired
- Learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder
- Medical conditions (asthma, arthritis, heart and kidney conditions, Cystic Fibrosis or cancer/Leukemia)
- Depression or any other mental illnesses
- Emotionally disturbed
- Mental retardation
- Orthopedically handicapped
- Any combination of one or more of the abov
Your local Family Resource Specialist (FRS), or Family Advocacy Specialist (FAS) can advise members if their individual circumstances meet the criteria for enrollment.
Program
Confidentiality
All discussions between a person using the Special Needs Program and the local Work-Life FRS or the FAS are confidential, with the exception of notification to the member's command of that member's enrollment in the program.
The FRS/FAS manage each individual member's special needs record. The information contained in that record shall not be made part of the member's service record or the civilian employee's personnel file. All information is kept confidential and access is strictly limited to the local Work-Life Supervisor, FRS, FAS and HQ's Special Needs Program Manager.
Services and Resources Available
The following services and resources are available within the Special
Needs Program:
- Assistance with enrollment in the program
- Resources and referrals
- Advocacy on behalf of families with the Coast Guard and with civilian agencies
- Assurance that appropriate resources are available in areas of proposed relocation by working closely with assignment officers and other Work-Life Staffs.
Related Program Information
- Active duty members shall not be adversely affected in their selection for promotion, schools or assignments due to enrollment in the program
- Active duty members will be enrolled in the program until the member has separated from the service, the family member is no longer a dependent or professional documentation has been provided verifying the special need condition no longer exists
- Active duty members are required to update their dependent's special needs enrollment forms (one for each family member) and professional documentation every two years or sooner if the special needs condition changes significantly
- Enrollment, resources and assistance are also available for retirees and civilian employees
Requesting Services or Resources
These services or resources can be obtained by contacting the FRS or FAS
at your
Regional Work-Life Staff. Work-Life Staffs are located
at Integrated Support Commands CG-wide and at the Headquarters Support
Command.
Program References
The following references provide details of the Coast Guard Special Needs Program:
- Coast Guard Special Needs Program - COMDTINST 1754.7A
- Management of Family Advocacy and Special Needs Cases - COMDTINST 1754.12
Related Websites
The following web sites provide information related to the
Special Needs Program:
- Air Force Crossroads (Special Needs section) -https://www.afcrossroads.com/education/k12_special.cfm. Includes information on general resources; organizations; special education laws; inclusive educational programs; individualized education plans; special needs friendly colleges; ADD and ADHD; autism, Aspergers' and pervasive development disorders; blind; deaf; down syndrome and mental retardation; dyslexia; gifted; and other disabilities.
- National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) - http://nichcy.org/index.html#about
- PAVE - http://www.washingtonpave.org/, a parent-directed organization, exists to increase independence, empowerment, and future opportunities for consumers with special needs, their families and communities, through training, information, referral and support
- Special Needs Network of the Military Family Resource Center - http://www.milspouse.org/Benefits/SpChild/. Site offers families with special medical and/or educational needs access to information, resources and each other. Features a "members network" which allows you to communicate with other families with special needs.
- STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents) - http://www.stompproject.org/default.asp A federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center established to assist military families who have children with special education or health needs. STOMP began in 1985, it is a project of Washington PAVE, and is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Point of Contact
If you are unable to contact the FRS or FAS on your
Regional Work-Life Staff, or need additional
assistance beyond the information provided here, please contact the Headquarters Special Needs Program Manager, Ms. Sheila Langston at (202) 475-5156, or Email at
Sheila.A.Langston@uscg.mil