The Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) serves Navy families with special needs. The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for Service members with qualifying family members. Enrollment in the EFMP ensures Service members are assigned only to those geographic areas where the medical (physical, developmental, and/or mental health) and/or educational needs of their family member(s) are available and accessible.
Qualifying special needs include, but is not limited to, family members who require any kind of specialty medical care or doctors and/or any type of educational support services, either of them lasting 6 months or longer. Some examples of qualifying services: early intervention services, Individual Education Program (IEP), referrals to speech/occupational therapy, clinical counseling, required adaptive equipment assistive technology devices and services and/or wheelchair accessibility. Additional criteria can be found in the DoDI1315.19, section 3, Criteria for Identifying Family Members with Special Needs.
The EFMP provides for the identification of the family member’s special needs through enrollment forms, assignment coordination, and family support.
The Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) application maintains the electronic EFMP enrollment (and updated) paperwork. NFAAS provides capabilities for non-clinical case management by an assigned EFMP Case Liaison allowing for documentation of referrals provided, individualized service plans (ISP) and family needs assessments (FNA) developed. NFASS also allows the Service member to track the status of his/her enrollment. A Family Member’s User Guide is available under the help tab.
The Fleet and Family Support Program is the Information and Referral (I&R) conduit for questions from families regarding available resources on base, those located in the local community as well as within the state and nationally.
EFMP Family Support
- EFMP Case Liaisons are located at the Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) and are assigned to Sailors enrolled in the EFMP
- Provide information, referral, system navigation and support to special needs families on various topics such as: Tricare/medical, schools, support groups, housing, special education, respite, and PCS moves etc.
- Link families to available military, local, state and national resources.
- Develop and maintain ISPs and FNAs
- Review Individual Education Program (IEPs) and attend IEP meetings for family support
- Delivers/coordinates EFMP type training for families, supports EFMP related events on/off base and for commands
- Provide training to command EFMP POCs
- Partners with the military treatment facility (MTF) EFMP Coordinators providing information, education/training and marketing about the EFMP to clinic staff
Special Education Support: Attorneys
, under the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) community – and Regional Special Education Liaisons (RSEL) located within the FFSC at CNRMA, CNRSE, CNRNDW, CNRSW, CNRNW and CNRH – provide expanded legal assistance and special education support to families enrolled in the EFMP.
Fully dedicated Special Education Attorneys support CNRMA, CNRSW and will include an attorney CNRSE coming fall of 2024. Check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9kMrXphMGU
- RSELs may attend an EFM’s IEP meeting, as invited by the parents. Review and provide feedback to parents relating to their child’s IEP.
- JAG attorneys may assist families with guardianship and estate planning needs, hearings, due process, attendance at school meetings etc.
- JAG attorneys may also assist families with special education law interpretation and may refer families to the American Bar Association (ABA) as needed pro bono
EFMP Respite Care
- The Navy’s EFMP Respite Care Program is provided to eligible Sailors through ChildCareAware of America
- Please contact your EFMP Case Liaison, located at your Fleet and Family Support Center, for more information!
Military Treatment Facility (MTF) EFMP Coordinators
- Oversee the identification and enrollment in the EFMP of eligible Service members and assist with enrollment
- They provide enrollment forms (DD Form 2792 and DD Form 2792-1), may explain the form, review completed forms for accuracy, and upload the enrollment package to NFAAS for review by PERS456 EFMP Branch medical screeners
- At overseas MTFs, they coordinate with Overseas and Suitability Screeners (OSS), the DoDDs and the local Educational and Developmental Intervention Services program
- MTF EFMP Coordinators partner with the FFSC EFMP Case Liaisons to provide EFMP information, education and marketing to families and clinic staff
- MTF personnel conduct the OSS and may make referrals for enrollment
For additional resources regarding the EFMP:
Governing Policy:
Updated 3 September 2024