When you have a family member with special needs — whether it’s a spouse, child or dependent adult — managing their care is a lot easier with the right support. The best place to start is by enrolling them in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Join us as we dive further into what the EFMP is, what documents are required to enroll, and how Partners in PROMISE supports and advocates for military families with special needs.
What Is the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)?
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a DoD-mandated enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide support, housing, educational, medical, and personnel services to families with special needs. EFMPs exist in numerous military communities and can vary in what they are able to provide, or how they are able to provide it, in each unique location.
Which Military Branches Offer EFMP?
EFMP programs are offered by four of the six military branches:
Documents Required to Enroll in EFMP
Servicemembers are required to enroll in the EFMP if they have a spouse, child, or other dependent in need of ongoing medical or educational services. To enroll, servicemembers should complete and submit:
- DD Form 2792, the Family Member Medical Summary, and/or
- DD Form 2792-1, the Family Member Special Education/Early Intervention Summary to their installation EFMP office.
A Navy Spouse's Experience with EFMP
In this discussion, Sarah Bumgardner, AAFMAA Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement, and Michelle Norman, Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE (PIP) talk about protecting the rights of military children in special education. PIP focuses on elevating the voices of military family members to help educate and advise them in navigating the DoD's Exceptional Family Member Program (or EFMP). Michelle, a Navy spouse of over 25 years shares her experience with EFMP in reference to her 19-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and other medical diagnoses — and why she created Partners in PROMISE.
If you and your spouse are considering enrolling your child in EFMP, you may enjoy reading the following articles on SpouseLink, an online military spouse community built to share resources and voices of military families across the globe:
Enrolling your child in EFMP is a personal decision so, as always, only you and your partner can decide what’s right for your family. If you have any questions about this process, email an AAFMAA Member Benefits representative at [email protected] or call 888-961-4432, select option 2, then option 2 again.