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. EFMP takes an all-inclusive approach to coordinate military and civilian community, educational, medical, housing, and personnel services to help Soldiers and their Families 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.
Soldiers* with Exceptional Family Members are required to register for EFMP and keep enrollment information current. This 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 medical records review for all Family members and developmental screening for all children aged 72 months and younger.
For more information about EFMP, contact the EFMP point of contact through your nearest Army medical treatment facility.
*Who must enroll in the program?
(1) Active Army
(2) U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Soldiers in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Program
(3) Army National Guard (ARNG) AGR personnel serving under authority of 10 USC and 32 USC.
Department of the Army civilian employees do not enroll in the program.
You must identify dependent children with special education and medically related service needs and, Family members with medical needs each time they process for an assignment to a location outside the United States, where Family member travel is authorized at government expense.
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.