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Ft. Cavazos

AN OFFICIAL ARMY FAMILY AND MWR SITE

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Shoemaker Lane, 2nd Floor BLDG 36000
Monday - Wednesday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed Federal Holidays
+1 (254)287-6070
Email Us

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The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) provides comprehensive support to Family members with special needs. An Exceptional Family Member is a Family member with any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling, and meets the eligibility criteria. EFMP pertains to active-duty Soldiers, US Army Reserve Soldiers in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Program, and Army National Guard AGR personnel serving under authority of 10 USC or 32 USC. Department of the Army Civilians do not enroll in the program.

EFMP takes an all-inclusive approach to coordinating military and civilian community, educational, medical, housing, and personnel services to help Soldiers and their Families with special needs. Enrollment in EFMP includes a wide array of benefits, detailed in the EFMP Benefits Fact Sheet.

EFMP enrollment does not adversely affect promotions, schools, or assignments. EFMP information is not made available to selection boards.

Soldiers with Exceptional Family Members are required to register for EFMP and keep enrollment information current. That way, Family needs will be considered during the OCONUS assignments process. If you’re eligible for EFMP services, Family members must be screened and enrolled when they accompany authorized Soldiers on OCONUS assignments. Screenings include a medical records review for all Family members and developmental screening for all children 72 months and younger. (Special education needs are considered only in assignments outside the United States. Assignments within the US and its territories are not based on the educational needs of children.)

For more information about EFMP and helpful articles about the program, look at the Enterprise EFMP site. After that, contact the installation EFMP manager at your local Army Community Service (ACS) office. To learn more about medical enrollment, see the Program Overview.

 

EFMP Resources

Here are some helpful resources for EFMP Families.

(Government Links)

  • Systems Navigators. Systems navigators are ACS EFMP staff members available on most Army installations. They assist EFMP Families with navigating through the available systems of care.​​​​
  • EFMP Newsletter. The Exceptional Advocate is the DoD’s EFMP newsletter, which includes helpful information and resources.
  • Military OneSouce. Military OneSource’s EFMP & Me tool allows Families to explore the details of EFMP benefits and processes.
  • DirectSTEP. DirectSTEP® eCourses are available for free to Soldiers and Family Members, Army EFMP staff, and Special Education staff associated with teaching military children. DirectSTEP® eCourses teach staff, parents, and educators how to handle critical education issues to obtain positive outcomes.
  • Respite Care Support. The Army’s Respite Care Support services provide a temporary rest period for Family members responsible for regular care of persons with disabilities. Care may be provided in the EFM respite care user’s home.

(Non-Government Links, No Endorsement Implied)

  • Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR). CPIR serves as a central resource of information and products to the community of Parent Training Information (PTI) Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers, so they can focus their efforts on serving Families of children with disabilities. 
  • American Camp Association (ACA). The ACA is a community of camp professionals who join together to share their knowledge and experience and ensure the quality of camp programs, including those for Exceptional Family Members.

 

MIAT

Multidisciplinary Inclusion Action Team (MIAT) 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 and Youth Services (CYS) programs. However, it is MIAT’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 MIAT 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 MIAT 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 MIAT appointment. All pertaining forms; Army Child and Youth Services Health Screening Tool 1,  Medical Action Plans—Allergy, Asthma, Diabetes or Seizure and Special Diet Statement can be accessed through the  WebTrac system.

A MIAT appointment is required for placement in appropriate CYS programs, and will be reviewed individually.


System Navigation

We are here to navigate Families through the available systems of care. System Navigators will:

  • Identify your EFM and Family strengths and needs.
  • Help identify and prioritize your EFM and Family goals.
  • Assist Soldiers with Compassionate Reassignments and other military related services.
  • Develop a Family Service Plan to reach your goals.
  • Make referrals to required services and provide follow up assistance.
  • Coordinate housing for military personnel with specialty needs.
  • Provide information about disabilities or medical conditions of concern and entitlements from both local and State to include Medicaid, Medicaid Waivers, and Social Security/Disability.
  • Identify support groups, social and other community support agencies that provide recreational activities for military children with special needs.
  • Strengthen your ability to advocate for your EFM.
  • Help prepare Families for Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meetings and 504 meetings.
  • Help Families organize their paperwork for meetings.
  • Attend ARD meetings and 504 meetings, upon parent request.
  • Maintain partnerships with Child & Youth Services School Liaison Officers and Independent School Districts.
Training and Support

EFMP Orientation

+1 (254)287-6070

EFMP Orientation • EFMP Workshop

This training provides information for newly arrived or newly enrolled Soldiers with Exceptional Family Members. Every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10 - 11:30 a.m., we provide an Orientation for Soldiers with Exceptional Family Members. Come out and learn more about community resources (on and off post), information and referral, advocacy, and programs available for Families with special needs.

Programs / agencies that provide information are:
Family and MWR's Army Community Service (ACS) and Child and Youth Services (CYS), Killeen Independent School District, Copperas Cove Independent School District, TRICARE, Military Life Counselors (MFLC) and more

EFMP Support Group

Call and register today. +1 (254)287-6070

Join us to connect with resources, knowledge, and one another. People with disabilities can benefit from connecting socially with one another, especially when they can find a common ground with someone else who lives with their specific disability.

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.

Interested in Becoming a Provider

 Forms and Documents

Partner Agencies

Central Texas Council of Governments (CTCOG)

The Central Texas Council of Governments helps local communities work cooperatively to improve the conditions and well-being of Central Texans.

Whether reaching out to elders in need of at-home or nursing home assistance, helping a family find a safe and affordable home, providing essential transportation planning, or keeping you safe through emergency and security programs, we serve with compassion, dedication and professionalism.

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)

ECI helps infants and toddlers, from birth to 3 years old, with disabilities or delays in their development. ECI supports families through education and family services to help their children reach their potential.

Killeen Special Education Department

Supports the mission of the Killeen Independent School District and the goals of the Education Services Department by identifying students with disabilities and providing them an equal opportunity for a free and appropriate education. For more information click Here! Look across the top to Departments, then look down the left hand side of the page for Special Education.

Copperas Cove Special Education Department

Copperas Cove ISD provides a continuum of specially-designed instructional services for all eligible students with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21.

Cultural and Recreation Activities

We are also a proud host of the Special Olympics Texas. We have an ongoing search for athletes and coaches for all the events. No experience necessary, so join us and be a part of the Special Olympics Texas and feel proud about your involvement in the movement that is changing lives!

MilitaryOneSource
MilitaryOneSource is a U.S. DoD program that provides 24/7 assistance that connects families to information, support, resources and get answers to assist our Military Families. MilitaryOneSource can be obtain services by phone or online. Our Exceptional Family Members can reach out to their local EFMP Family Support offices. EFMP Family Support Office can be contact at (254) 287-6070.

Helping Military Families with Special Needs Thrive (link)