- 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.
- 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.
Our mission is to assist Active Duty Personnel with Family members who have physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual needs.
EFMP is designed to minimize the disruptions those needs might have upon the Family during relocation, and to give considerations to those needs in the reassignment process through medical and education evaluations.
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)
(Non-Government Links, No Endorsement Implied)
Free Respite Care Available:
Call +1 (804)734-6388 for information.
Does enrollment have any impact on a Soldier's career?
Enrollment in the EFMP does not adversely affect selection for promotion, schools, or assignment. Information concerning enrollment in the EFMP or any of the data used in the program is not made available to selection boards. Failure to enroll an EFM in the EFMP can impact a Soldier's career.
Who must enroll in the program?
Enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program is mandatory for all Soldiers.
How does a Soldier enroll in the program?
The Soldier can contact the nearest medical treatment facility or ACS to begin the assessment process and obtain the enrollment forms.
What are the benefits of enrollment in the program?
Enrollment allows assignment managers at Army personnel agencies to consider the documented medical and special education needs of EFMs in the assignment process. When possible, Soldiers are assigned to an area where the medical and special education needs of the EFM may be met. All Soldiers are still eligible for worldwide assignments.
Are special education needs always considered in the military personnel assignment process?
Special education needs are only considered in assignments outside the United States. Every local school system must obey public laws regarding the provision of special education.
What can the EFMP do for you?
Community support services include resources, information and referral, advocacy, support groups, respite care and relocation assistance.
ACS conducts support groups and training for EFMs and their family members. Contact ACS at +1 (804)734-6388 for more information.
