EFMP
The Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield EFMP is a comprehensive multi-agency program ready to assist military Families with members that have special needs. The two key components of the program are the ACS EFMP providing information and referral, advocacy, education, non-clinical case management; the Winn Army Community Hospital (WACH) EFMP office is here to assist Families with enrollment, disenrollment, updated, and overseas screenings. Our offices are dedicated to enhancing your military experience.
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EFMP Manager Phone: (912) 767-5058
Email: ann.m.cooper29.civ@mail.mil
Systems Navigation at FSGA: (912) 767-2147
Location: 201 Linquist Road, Fort Stewart GA 31314
ACS EFMP Coordinator at HAAF: (912) 315-1058
Location: 171 Haley Avenue, Bldg 1286, Savannah, GA
Winn Army Community Hospital EFMP: (912) 435-6970
1061 Harmon Ave, Ft Stewart, GA 31314
Hours: Mon – Fri, 7:30 am – 4.30 pm
About Our Program:
The Exceptional Family Member Program, is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated medical, educational, housing, community support, and personnel services to Families with special needs. The Department of the Army Program EFMP functions under the provisions of Army Regulation AR 608-75. It is designed to assist active duty personnel during assignments/reassignments sponsoring Exceptional Family Members (EFM) with special physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual needs. In a dual military Family, both Soldiers must be enrolled. Enrollment is based upon the medical and educational requirements of Family members of active duty military personnel. Enrollment updates are required every 3 years or if the condition changes!
Who is an Exceptional Family Member (EFM)?
An EFM is a Soldier’s immediate Family member (child or adult), regardless of age, with any physical, emotional, developmental, behavioral, mental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling on an on-going basis.
Services Provided:
Advocacy: We assist and support our clients with advocating for their needs. We can assist families to clarify issues, concerns, and submit questions with any of the servicing agencies within the installation, such as special housing requests and Individual Education Process (IEP) meetings. We assist with the IEP meetings; our staff has the knowledge and expertise concerning special education needed to educate parents on the process, assist them to prepare for IEP meetings, and to improve the parent’s ability to advocate for their children’s education.
Community Education: The ACS EFMP conducts multiple information booths throughout the installation in order to educate the military community of the services available to military families. Briefings are conducted at the individual, unit, and community levels to educate families to be better able to make decisions for there EFMs.
Community Support: The EFMP family support helps families identify and access programs and services. Family support includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Information and referral for military and community services
- Education and outreach
- Referral to other family support center providers
- Local school and early intervention services information
- Warm handoffs to the EFMP at the next location
- Non-clinical case management, including individualized services plans
In/out processing: The ACS EFMP office is responsible for in and out processing, and relocation assistance for families with special needs. Our in processing procedures consist of family assessment to determine eligibility for required and available services and resources. During out processing will provide relocation assistance as need to families and perform a warm hand off to the gaining installation ACS EFMP office.
Information and Referral: The ACS EFMP is the pivot point for the network of services available to military families with special needs on and off the installation. Our referral service is one the most beneficial elements of our program.
Support Groups: Our support groups are meetings where you can come to talk about your experiences and gain feedback without being judged or criticized. The group members can help you to develop positive parenting solutions in a respectful environment. If you yearn for help and support to improve relationships with your children, our groups might be the place for you.
Systems Navigation: Systems Navigation is a Family support component of the EFMP that connects Families who have special needs with the systems of care they need, both on and off the installation. Systems Navigation also supports the efforts/goals of keeping our Families Army strong. The primary role of a System Navigator is to guide or navigate Families through the available systems of care. Our Systems Navigators can:
- Identify your Exceptional Family Member (EFM) and Family strengths and needs.
- Help your Family identify and prioritize EFM and Family goals.
- Develop your Family Service Plan to help reach those goals.
- Make referrals to required services. Help you learn more about the disability or medical condition.
- Find support groups and social activities in which your Family can participate.
- Strengthen your ability to advocate for your Exceptional Family Member.
Online Resources:
Respite Care: EFMP respite care is a program that provides a temporary rest period for Family members responsible for regular care of persons with disabilities. Care may be provided in the EFMP respite care user’s home or other settings such as special needs camps and enrichment programs. It is time limited based on the exceptional Family member’s (EFM) medical condition and availability of funding. EFMP respite care is not an entitlement or a guaranteed benefit.
Special Needs Accommodation Process (SNAP): SNAP evaluates health, developmental, physical, social, emotional, learning, and behavioral issues that may affect your child. We are here to help decide placement for your child, youth or teen in Child, Youth & School Services (CYSS) programs. However, it is SNAP’s philosophy and goal, when reasonable, to honor personal choices for childcare, school age services and youth services, as well as participation in recreational activities for children.
As a parent, you are a vital member of this team. Your participation is strongly encouraged and valued. The SNAP can be of greater assistance when provided with a brief history, outline of current symptoms/concerns and actions taken (rescue medicine, etc.).
During the initial enrollment or re-registration, parents will complete the SNAP Screening Form, which will be reviewed by the Army Public Health Nurse (APHN). In some cases, the Medical Action Plan (MAP) will be provided for completion by the child’s doctor, stating the diagnosis and modifications that need to be made. The MAP will be reviewed by the APHN and forwarded to EFMP staff, who will then contact parents for a SNAP appointment.