Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

We know that your family members are the most important people in your life and having a family member with special needs can create unique challenges. The Exceptional Family Member (EFMP) is here to help!

Make An Appointment

EFMP is a Department of Defense mandated enrollment program that is based on public law. It is offered by all branches of the military and includes a variety of personnel, medical and family support functions. The program works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive assistance, coordination, medical, educational, housing, community support and personal services to military families with special needs.

EFMP-Family Support can assist you with managing the competing demands of the military mission and family life, through advocacy for special house modifications, respite care, recreational & educational events, special needs resources, information about your rights and responsibilities and much more.

We welcome you to contact us!

The 3 Components

All three components work toward a common goal of providing comprehensive and coordinated support to families.

Military Resources

Military OneSource

1.800.342.9647 | https://www.militaryonesource.mil
Offers a wide range of individualized consultations, coaching, and non-medical counseling for many aspects of military life wherever you are, worldwide.

Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC)

Support includes financial, deployment, relocation, transition, employment, voting, EFMP, information & referral and more. Joint Base Anacostia Bolling M&FRC: 202.284.4473 (Open 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM M-F.Or find your nearest center: https://installations.militaryonesource.mil

Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC)

Offers support for service members, families, and survivors with non-medical, face-to-face counseling both on and off-installation. Joint Base Anacostia Bolling MFLC: 202.302.2688

Emergency Financial Assistance Relief Societies

Air Force: https://afas.org
Army: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org
Navy & Marine: https://www.nmcrs.org
Federal Civilian: https://feea.org

Military/Veteran Crisis Line

Confidential 24/7. Call 1.800.273.8255, text 838255 or chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/military- crisis-line

Employee Assistance Program

For DoD civilian employees. Call 1.800.222.0364 (1.888.262.7848 TTY), or visit EAP www.FOH4You.com or Worklife4you www.worklife4you.com (use code “USAF”)

National Resource Directory

Still not finding what you’re looking for. Try https://nrd.gov.

Military Resources

CDC

“Managing Anxiety & Stress”

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline

Call 800.985.5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
Provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human- caused disasters: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/contact-us
Coping tips for traumatic events/disasters: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/coping-tips

NAMI

Free Support 24/7. Text “NAMI” to 741741
Resource Library: https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine/NAMI-Resource-Library

Online support groups:https://www.verywellmind.com/best-online-anxiety-support-groups-4692353

Additional Resources

Parent Training Centers

Perform a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. To find a Parent Training Center in any
State: http://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/

Maryland Parent Training Center

The Parents’ Place of Maryland (PPMD)
802 Cromwell Park Dr. (Suite Q)
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Phone: 800.394.5694 | 410.768.9100
Website: www.ppmd.org

Virginia Parent Training Center

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) 100 N. Washington St. (Suite 234)
Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: 703.923.0010 | 800.869.6782
E-Mail: partners@peatc.org
Website: http://www.peatc.org/

Washington DC Parent Training Center

Advocates for Justice & Education, INC
1200 G St. NW (Suite 725)
Phone: 1.200.678.8060 | 888.678.8060
Website: www.aje-dc.org

Early Intervention

Child Find

A legal requirement that schools must find all children who have disabilities and who may be entitled to special education services.

Maryland State Department of Education

Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services
200 W. Baltimore St. (9th floor)
Baltimore, MD 21201
Toll-Free Phone: 1.800.535.0182
Website: http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/Special-Education/MITP/index.aspx

Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia

Phone: 1.800.234.1448
Website: http://www.infantva.org/

District of Columbia Public Schools

Early Stages Center
1125 New Jersey Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202.698.8037
Website: https://www.earlystagesdc.org/

Military Legal Assistance

Air Force Legal Assistance

Website: https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil/lass/lass.html

Disability Law Centers

Disability Rights Maryland

1500 Union Ave. (Suite 2000)
Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: 410.727.6352
Website: www.disabilityrightsmd.org

To find the MDLC equivalent in any State, you can go to: http://www.ndrn.org/en/ndrn-member-agencies.html

Disability Law Center for Virginia

1910 Byrd Ave. (Suite 5)
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804.225.2042 Voice/TTY | 800.552.3962 (in VA only)
Fax: 804.662.7057
E-Mail: info@dlcv.org
Website: http://www.dlcv.org

Advocacy

The ARC

Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual & developmental disabilities, as well as providing them with resources and support: http://thearc.org

Federal & State Resources

Social Security Administration

Website: www.ssa.gov

Medicaid

A federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources: www.medicaid.gov

Department of Rehabilitation Maryland

2301 Argonne Dr.
Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: 410.554.9942 | 888.554.0334
Website: www.dors.maryland.gov

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Division of Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

20 Ricketts Dr.
Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: 540.722.3453
Website: www.vadars.org

Developmental Disabilities Administration

Low Intensity Support Services

Grants to assist adults with developmental disabilities and families with a child with developmental disabilities in purchasing services and/or items to address needs: https://dda.health.maryland.gov/Pages/home.aspx

Maryland Technology Assistance Program

Helps families access assistive technologies such as wheelchairs, low-vision aids, adapted telephones, ramps and other home modifications: http://mdod.maryland.gov/mdtap/Pages/MDTAP-Home.aspx

Other Resources

EFMP & Me

Here to help you effectively navigate through the Department of Defense’s network of services and support for families with special needs: https://efmpandme.militaryonesource.mil/

Military Families Learning Network

Online professional development: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/military-caregiving/

Wrightslaw Special Education Law & Advocacy

This website is designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, healthcare providers and advocates: https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/dod.index.htm

Sesame Street for Military Families

This website assists military families, and their young children cope with the challenges of deployment and build resilience in times of separation and change: https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/

The Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)

Provides financial assistance to beneficiaries with special needs for an integrated set of services and supplies: https://www.tricare.mil/echo

Hope Connections

Helps people with cancer and their loved ones deal with the emotional and physical impact of cancer through participation in professionally facilitated programs of emotional support, education, wellness, and hope: https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org/

Operation Autism

A Resource Guide for Military Families: https://operationautism.org/healthcare/efmp/