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                                                                                         Updated January 29, 2020

Defense Primer: Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)


Congress appropriates funds for servicemember and family
benefits, including services to improve their quality of life
or attenuate challenges. Military families face frequent
moves around the globe, often causing disruptions to
spousal employment, school or child care arrangements,
and other challenges associated with establishing a
household in a new location.
Military members who have a dependent (spouse, child, or
dependent parent) with special needs may experience
significant stress during these moves due to the need to find
specialized health care providers, school systems with
dedicated support services, and community support
assistance. The military established the Exceptional Family
Member Program (EFMP) to ease these additional burdens
of a move for such families.


The U.S. Army started EFMP in 1979, with the other
services following. Enrollment was voluntary and the
program initially provided medical support to families with
special needs in the United States and overseas locations.
As child advocacy groups raised concerns over the unique
pressures of military service on families, Congress enacted
the Military Family Act of 1985 as part of the Department
of Defense Authorization Act, 1986 (P.L. 99-145 §§801-
813). This act directed the Department of Defense (DOD)
to create an Office of Family Policy to coordinate
programs and activities of the military departments as they
relate to military families.
After 20 years of high operational tempo and congressional
hearings on strength, vitality, and sustainability of military
family support programs, Congress created the Office of
Community Support for Military Families with Special
Needs in Section 563 of the National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) for FY2010 (P.L. 111-84). Later renamed the
Office of Special Needs (OSN), its statutory mission is to
develop DOD-level oversight of EFMP and enhance and
improve DOD support around the world for military
families with special needs (whether medical or educational
needs).
OSN establishes DOD policy to support military families
with special needs, while each service (Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, and Air Force) is responsible for
administering its own EFMP. While the degree of legal,
educational, and training assistance provided varies by
service, OSN coordinates with each service, the Defense
Health Agency (DHA), and the DOD Education Activity in
an effort to ensure EFMP adequately supports military
families. OSN holds quarterly advisory panels with military
families to assess program satisfaction and provides an
annual report to Congress (10 U.S.C. §1781c(g)).


DOD Instruction 1315.19 requires active duty
servicemembers to enroll in EFMP if they have a dependent
with a qualifying special need. Members of the Reserve
Component are not required to enroll in EFMP, unless they
are in an active duty status (>30 consecutive days). DOD
civil service employees selected for overseas assignments
are eligible for EFMP services on a space-available basis.
Servicemembers may receive guidance on eligibility and
completing enrollment in the program at their installation
EFMP office. EFMP enrollment is not portable and
servicemembers must register for the program when
transferring to a new duty station. While there are no costs
to enroll in the program, certain costs may be associated
with medical documentation required for enrollment. These
costs may be reimbursed by the member's service or
through DOD's health benefits program, TRICARE.

             Criteria for EMFP Enrollment
                (one or more of the following)
 *    Life-Threatening or Chronic Condition Requiring Special
     Care (e.g., follow-up from a primary care manager)
 *    Current and Chronic Mental Health Condition
 Asthma or Other Respiratory-Related Diagnosis
 *    Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit
      Hyperactivity Disorder
 Chronic Condition Requiring Adaptive Equipment,
     Assistive Technologies, or EnvironmentallArchitectu ral
     Considerations
 *    Special Educational Needs


EFMP offices also assist with the coordination of military
assignments and family support services. Dependents are
eligible for support services once the servicemember has
enrolled in the program.
EFMP offices validate educational and medical resource
availability at the servicemember's projected duty location,
in partnership with the services' personnel organizations. If
specific services or resources are not available at the
servicemember's prospective duty location, their military
orders may be canceled or modified.
EFMP's family support services identify local programs
and resources to support individual needs. This includes
connecting dependents with community support groups,
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 101-476)
early intervention programs, and special education services.
EFMP enrollees may also receive respite care. Eligibility,
availability, and amount of monthly-allotted respite care
hours varies by service.


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