FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 16, 2013) -- Fort Rucker is constantly looking for ways to better serve its service members and Family members, and one way the installation is doing that is through the Exceptional Family Member Program survey.
The goal of the survey, which runs now through July 1, is to help EFMP officials provide better services to Army Families that have special needs or disabilities, while identifying new Families that might be in need of assistance, said Marion Cornish, EFMP manager.
"This is a good opportunity for Family members to showcase their voice and add something to the program," said Cornish. "It's also a great opportunity for people to find out information about the program in general."
The survey is available for people to fill out in two forms -- online or on paper, she said. People can visit any of the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities to fill out the survey, or they can go online to do so at www.surveymonkey.com/s/HHNKKJN.
"All the surveys are anonymous, so nobody needs to feel threatened by anything," said Cornish. "We need honest feedback."
The survey is also meant to help decide which programs need to be focused on in light of budget constraints, she added.
"If there is a reduction in the number of hours we are available, then we need to know which services emphasis needs to be placed on," said the EFMP manager.
The program is designed to help identify and ensure that services are available to active-duty military personnel with Family members that have special needs.
Cornish said there are different components of EFMP, some of which many Family members aren't aware.
There is the Army Community Service side of EFMP, which provides support services like advocacy, training, referrals and respite care, she said. And then there's the medical side, which handles the enrollment process, updates and disenrollment.
"By regulations, it's mandatory that anyone enrolled in the EFMP program have their records updated at a minimum of once every three years or as their condition changes," said Cornish, adding that it's important for Soldiers to notify their medical EFMP office if a person needs to be removed from the program.
"If a Soldier's spouse is the one with a special need, and for whatever reason that marriage ends, then it's very important to have that Family member removed from their records," she said. "The Army takes into consideration that Family member's needs as a Soldier moves throughout his or her career, and if that person is no longer part of the equation, then the Army needs to know about it."
Another function that the medical side oversees is screenings, said Cornish, adding that many people don't realize that their Family members need to be screened for certain conditions.
"If a Family has a child enrolled in early intervention services, whether through an Army or civilian program, they need to have that Family member screened as long as they are in the military," she said. "Also, if a Family member is on medication for asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, they also need to be screened for possible enrollment."
Even people who take regular shots for allergies should be screened, said Cornish, adding that there are many common conditions that people may not realize that they can get help for, and all they need to do is ask.
For more information, call 255-9277.
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