Today's Focus:
Exceptional Family Member Program
SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
"The Exceptional Family Member Program is one way we can keep some of the most important promises articulated in the Army Family Covenant: providing access to high-quality medical care, educational opportunities and family programs that foster an environment in which families can thrive."
- Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of Installation Management Command
Exceptional Family Member Program: Fulfilling the promise to all Family members
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"I think it (deployment) is important because it gives the senior faculty experiences that they can ... share with cadets (and) faculty… Part of the cadet leadership development model that we have says that this model evolves based on the strategic environment. In order to bring back experiences in the strategic environment and possibly help the model evolve, you need senior faculty to deploy."
- Lt. Col. William Fehlman, the director of the differential calculus program in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at West Point, N.Y., voluntarily deployed to Baghdad to serve as the Chief of Strategic Assessments for the U.S. Forces-Iraq Strategic Plans and Policy office, assessing Iraq's ability to support and defend itself in terms of economics, military and force structure
From the blackboard to Baghdad, West Point mathematician deploys
CALENDAR
July 2010
Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Birthday
July 1- 3: Anniversary of Battle of Gettysburg
July 4: Independence Day
TODAY'S FOCUS
Exceptional Family Member Program
What is it?
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical and personnel services to families with special needs.
An Exceptional Family Member (EFM) is a child or adult with any physical, emotional, developmental or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training or counseling.
What has the Army done?
As part of the Army Family Covenant, the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC) received $8.2 million funding for respite care for families with EFMs. This program provides up to 40 hours per month of respite care for family members responsible for regular care of persons with special needs.
FMWRC has established an EFMP web page on Army OneSource for military families with special needs. The web page makes available resources such as the respite care guidance and marketing materials, EFMP frequently asked questions and links to other special needs resources.
The FMWRC conducted an EFMP Summit in February 2010 to enhance services and support for EFMs, keeping the promise of the Army Family Covenant. The EFMP Strategic Action Plan evolved from the Summits and is in the staff coordination process, a precursor to implementation. The plan consists of initiatives in the following five areas: Management Information Systems, Army Policy, Training and Education, Strategic Communication and System Navigation.
Why is it important to the Army?
There are 52,573 Soldiers enrolled and 69,493 family members registered in EFMP (includes spouses, children and dependent parents requiring medical and/or special education services). Enrollment allows assignment managers at Army personnel agencies to consider the documented medical and special education needs in the assignment process. All Soldiers are still eligible for worldwide assignment and, when possible, they are assigned to an area where their family member's medical and special education needs can be met. Enrollment is a prerequisite for receiving EFMP respite care and TRICARE Extended Care Health Option.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
The FMWRC initiatives include implementing EFMP Strategic Action Plan and conducting annual EFMP training in conjunction with the Military Child Education Coalition. Additionally, FMWRC is working to ensure EFMP enrollment information is up to date, monitoring the central contract for respite care and publishing updates to AR 608-75 regarding family members deployment screening.
Resources:
EFMP webpage
Policy: Army Regulation 608-75, Exceptional Army Member Program, 22 November 2006
Exceptional Family Member Program supports families with special needs
STAND-TO! NEWS
ABOUT THE ARMY
- Pentagon recommends Medal of Honor for a living Soldier (Washington Post)
- 3rd Infantry Divsion headquarters Iraq deployment extended by 30 days (The U.S. Army)
- Puerto Rican government issues birth certificate extension (The U.S. Army)
- Beneficial suggestion wins big with Army, employee (The U.S. Army)
- One year later, still no answers on missing Soldier (Stars & Stripes)
- Eyewitness to history: Grafenwoehr Training Area reenacts historic first shot (The U.S. Army)
- Captain has special reasons to salute on Fourth of July (The U.S. Army)
OVERSEAS OPERATIONS
- Senate confirms Petraeus as Afghan war chief (Yahoo)
- After Afghan shift, top U.S. civilians face tricky future (New York Times)
- In Kandahar, looking to Petraeus on rules of fire (NPR)
- Afghanistan war toll hits high mark (USA Today)
- Some Afghan military officers to receive training in Pakistan (Washington Post)
- Iraqis buying tons of U.S. military surplus items (Los Angeles Times)
- Al Qaeda starts English-language magazine (Boston Globe)
OF INTEREST
- Army ready to take drastic action to clear up record-keeping at Arlington Cemetery (Washington Post)
- A 'huge' day for America's medics (San Antonio Express News)
- Pentagon continues to grapple with language shortfalls (Government Executive)
- VA announces new option for marking veterans' graves in private cemeteries (The U.S. Army)
- No cold shoulder to media after McChrystal episode: Pentagon (Yahoo)
WORLD VIEW
- U.S. General Petraeus vows to protect Afghan civilians (BBC)
- Taliban rules out NATO talks (London Daily Telegraph)
- Children, aged 5, used to plant Taliban bombs in Afghanistan (London Daily Telegraph)
- U.S Soldiers frustrated in Afghan stabilization drive (Hindustan Times)
- U.S. House panel blocks Afghan aid (Al Jazeera)
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