The Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) serves Navy families with special needs. The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for sponsors 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) can be met. 

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, 504/IEPs, referrals to speech/occupational therapy, clinical counseling, required adaptive equipment assistive technology devices and services and/or wheelchair accessibility.

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 and provides capabilities for non- medical 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. 

EFMP Family Support: The Fleet and Family Support Program is the Information and Referral (I&R) conduit for questions regarding available resources to the family on base, those located in the local community as well as within the state and nationally.

EFMP Assignment Case Managers:  Review Pending Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders after being negotiated with the Detailer. They ensure that service members are assigned to geo­graphic areas suitable for their exceptional family members. Every effort is made to match the sponsor’s career path with the needs of the family.  All EFMP sponsors may be considered for accompanied overseas assignment based on the availability of required medical/educational services at the gaining location and successful completion of the overseas/suitability screening process by the sponsor and all family members. Sailors must maintain worldwide assignment eligibility, which means they may need to serve on unaccompanied tours to meet the mission requirements while their family is supported in another location.

EFMP Case Liaisons are located at the Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC):

• Provide information, referral and system navigation to special needs families.

• Link families with available military, local and national resources.

• Delivers/coordinates EFMP type training for families and supports EFMP related events.

• Provide non-medical case management.

• Develop and maintain ISPs and FNAs.

• Review Individual Education Program (IEPs) and attend IEP meetings for family support.

• Provide training to command EFMP POCs.

• Partner with the military treatment facility (MTF) EFMP Coordinators providing information, education/training and marketing about the EFMP to clinic staff.

The MTFs conduct overseas and suitability screening and assist with EFMP enrollment.

MTF EFMP Coordinators:

• Oversee the identification and enrollment of eligible service members and their families.

• Provide enrollment forms, offer help in the preparation of the forms, review completed forms for accuracy, and forward the enrollment package to the Central Screening Committee.

• At overseas MTFs, coordinate with the DoDEAs and the local Educational and Developmental Intervention Services program.

• Partner with the FFSC EFMP Liaisons to provide EFMP information, education and marketing to families and clinic staff.

Special Education Attorneys, under the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) community – in collaboration with Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) – provide expanded legal assistance and special education support to families enrolled in the EFMP. Specific, fully dedicated, Special Education Attorneys support CNRMA and CNRSW. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9kMrXphMGU

• Attend and speak at EFM’s IEP meeting, as invited by the parents.

• Represent families as requested with: guardianship and estate planning needs, hearings, due process, attendance at school meetings etc.

• Review and provide input to EFMs IEP to parents.

• JAG attorneys at Navy installations will assist families with special education law interpretation and may refer families to the American Bar Association (ABA) as needed pro bono.

EFMP enrollment forms are mandatory and required to be completed immediately upon identification of a special need.

• DD Form 2792, Family Member Medical Summary

• DD Form 2792-1, Early Intervention/Special Education Summary

NOTE: Enrollment forms can be found at DoD Forms. DoD civilian employees and their family members do not enroll in the EFMP.

Navy Sponsors who have a dependent identified as an EFM and require additional assistance may also qualify for Respite Care. Families can visit Child Care Aware for Respite Care information and to register.