The Office of Special Needs (OSN) is responsible for DoD policy and maintains EFMP & Me on Military One Source.  Each branch is responsible for monitoring and implementing the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) for their service members.  There are specific requirements for EFMP but in general those enrolled have medical conditions that require specialty care and/or special educational needs.  TRICARE benefits apply to all branches of the service.  There are some unique aspects of being an EFMP family serving in the Navy.  

Exceptional Families of the Military (EFM) 501 c(3) Non-Profit highlights the differences in programming and terminology unique to the Navy in this blog.

Amy’s #EFMVoice and Story:

Our EFMP story starts in the Washington D.C. area back in 2016. We had just moved to Alexandria from Hawaii. We had been seeking help with our daughter and her social-emotional and sensory difficulties for the last few years prior to the move. In Alexandria, we were referred to a neurodevelopmental pediatrician that would soon diagnose our oldest daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

With this diagnosis brought both a sense of relief but also fear. A heavy sense of the unknown hung over our family as we navigated just what this diagnosis meant.

I found EFM’s family support group on Facebook and immediately felt a much-needed sense of connection and support. During this experience of navigating EFMP enrollment, Tricare and ECHO benefits, and special education services a desire grew to help other military families facing the same challenges.

Since that time in Alexandria, we have now moved across the country twice. We went to NAS Whidbey Island, and are now stationed in Norfolk. While care coordination and continuation has been tough during these moves, we have been lucky to have very supportive Navy EFMP Liaisons during these tours.

And I could not have done these moves without the support group network EFM provides. From area information, doctor recommendations, Tricare help, I’ve been able to reach out for questions and recommendations and I can’t thank everyone in those groups enough. 

Here is a list of some Navy EFMP specific things I would like to share with you.  

1. The Navy is the only branch to utilize category numbers for EFMP enrollment.

The categories are very subjective and can vary based on the doctors giving them, but they are based on needs and frequency of appointments. So some people with the same diagnosis could have different categories.The numbers represent the following:

Category 1 – No assignment restrictions, for monitoring purposes only. If orders are for OCONUS duty station, overseas screening must still be passed.

Category 2 – No CONUS assignment restrictions. If orders are for OCONUS duty station, overseas screening must still be passed.

Category 3 – Some CONUS and OCONUS may be limited based on diagnosis and requirements.

Category 4 – Normally, no overseas assignments. CONUS assignments only and must be near major medical areas, including Hawaii and Alaska.

Category 5 – The EFM meets criteria for stabilization if the sponsor chooses. It is important to note that the sponsor may be required to take an unaccompanied assignment to meet mission requirements.

Category 6 – A temporary category for medical needs that require a stable environment for 6 months to 1 year. This category will have to be updated within 1 year to receive permanent category or disenrollment.

2. Branch of Service Respite Care for Navy: 40 hours of care per month at no cost to the family.

*The EFM must be 18 or under, reside with the sponsor, and be assigned EFMP category 4 or 5. There is currently a waitlist for Navy Respite Care. You can learn more here and join the waitlist.

3. All Service Branches EFMP families could qualify for TRICARE ECHO.

*For the Navy to enroll, TRICARE ECHO paperwork will be submitted to your EFMP Coordinator.

4. For assignments, category 1-3 Sailors will negotiate orders like normal. Category 4-6 Sailors will negotiate directly with their detailer and should reach out to them 13-15 months outside of their window to begin discussion. 

In all instances having EFMP enrollment complete or updated is very important in helping your assignment detail work for your families needs.

*This video gives a good overview of what the process should look like. 

5. If you need legal assistance with Special Education, the Navy began a 3-year EFMP Legal Assistance Pilot Program in 2021.

The EFMP Pilot Program consists of two disability and special education law subject matter experts (SMEs), located in Norfolk and San Diego, who can provide direct, in-court legal services to EFMP families in the jurisdiction wherein they are licensed.

*If you need assistance and are not located in these areas, reach out to your EFMP Liaison located at your base Fleet & Family Service Center. They have local resources they can share with you.

EFM would like to highlight at the 2020 EFMP hearing before Congress, OSN was charged with standardization.  We hope that standardization efforts recognize and adopt best practices across all branches of service.

Meet Amy!

Amy is a Navy spouse of almost 17 years and mom of 2 girls.

She currently works part time as an administrative business partner with a local realtor, and has volunteered part time with EFM for almost 2 years now.

Her family currently resides in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

For more from EFM, check out our Expert Blogger Page or at their EFM Website.