FORT RILEY, Kan. - A young girl with little black pigtails and a red and white outfit danced to the Christmas music, swinging her arms back and forth to the beat. With rosy red cheeks and a smile spread across her face, she definitely had the holiday spirit.
Could she be the youngest and cutest Santa impersonator ever' Possibly. But she also was one of the attendees of the Family Advocacy Program and Exceptional Family Member Program's Holiday Conference.
The conference was from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Riley's Conference Center.
The educational and social conference allowed Families involved in EFMP or FAP to interact. Families could join in singing holiday songs or they could work on craft projects that were available.
Santa also dropped by the conference to help sing holiday songs and talk to the Families.
EFMP has been having similar holiday conferences for about 12 years, said Laurie McCauley, EFMP manager. FAP joined EFMP for the holiday conference about six years ago.
"It's been a positive thing," McCauley said.
She said the conference is an opportunity for Families from both programs to get to know each other.
"I think it brings their spirit into the holidays; allows them to join together with that happiness," McCauley said.
Around 250 to 350 people have attended the event for the last couple of years.
McCauley said she sees the holiday conference as a way to give back to the Families involved in both programs.
"I believe they give so much; contribute to the standards of the Army. This is an opportunity for them to be given to," she said.
The program is fun for the children and the parents, she added.
"It's something we can do for the Families to say how much we appreciate them," McCauley said.
EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for Families with exceptional Family members.
Exceptional Family members are described as anyone with a physical, emotional, developmental or intellectual disability who requires special treatment, therapy, education, training or counseling.
The mission of EFMP is to make sure the medical and educational needs of these individuals are appropriately met.
EFMP works with military and civilian agencies to provide medical, educational, housing, community support and personnel services to Families with special needs. People can enroll in EFMP by calling their medical point of contact to get enrollment forms.
FAP addresses child abuse, neglect and spouse abuse. The program provides identification, reporting, treatment and follow-up to cases.
Their services include community education and awareness; prevention efforts to support parenting, marital and Family communications; crisis intervention; emergency shelter; and counseling.
For more information about either program, call Army Community Service at (785) 239-9435.
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