LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — The Exceptional Family Member Program supports military families with special medical and educational needs. The program has three components: Identification and enrollment of a family member with special medical or educational needs, assignment coordination to determine the availability of services at the projected duty station and family support to help families identify and access programs and services.
The EFMP is alive and well on Luke Air Force Base. There are approximately 525 sponsors and approximately 712 family members enrolled in the program, according to Brenda McGuire, 56th Medical Group and EFMP-medical program special needs coordinator, who overseas and manages the program. Enrollment is mandatory for active-duty sponsors with a family member who has a diagnosed physical, intellectual or emotional/psychological condition that requires ongoing specialized medical or educational services. The purpose for the mandatory enrollment is to ensure medical/educational service requirements are available at current and gaining locations.
Marjorie Thompson, 56th Force Support Squadron EFMP coordinator, plays an important role in ensuring families get the services they need by assisting them to navigate their community resources. This is done by meeting with families, assessing their needs and assisting with connecting them to resources. Additionally, the EFMP-FS coordinator holds monthly support group meetings, trainings, assists with finding camps, and holds special events to help families normalize their situation. She also attends briefings such as Wing Orientation, Medical Right Start, and Key Spouse Training to provide information on the EFMP program.
Some of the past workshops and events include, “Wills, Trust and Guardianship,” “Accessing information thru Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities,” and “Applied Behavioral Analysis” workshops. Events included “A day at the Ranch” “Hattie Larlham Camp Connect” and most recently, “Back to School Bowling.”
Events for the rest of the year will include presentations on Sounds of Autism and Individual Education Plan. The last event of the year will be at Dave and Buster’s at West Gate.
For more information, call Thompson at 623-856-6841 or visit the 56th FSS Airman and Family Readiness Center in Bldg. 1113 or email marjorie.thompson@us.af.mil.