The EFMP process invoves three areas:

• EFMP-Medical- (Special Needs Coordinator, MTF Providers)-Identification, enrollment, relocation clearances, health care coordinattion
• EFMP-Assignments- (Air Force Personnel Center-AFPC)-Q-coding, special assignment consideration, reassignments, humanitarian
• EFMP-Family Support- (EFMP Coordinator @ the Airman & Readiness Center)-Info and resources pertaining to:  housing, employment, respite care, school liaison, financial needs, local resources. (NOTE:   Although there is information pertaining to the overall Exceptional Family Member Program throughout this website, most info and services pertain to to the FAMILY SUPPORT (FS) area.)

EFMP-FS:  The Exceptional Family Member Program Coordinator works in the Airman & Family Readiness Center; providing resource information and support to our Air Force Families with an exceptional family member.  It is the job of the EFMP Coordinator to bring together the information, the people and the resources that our exceptional families need.  We are partners along with Ellsworth Air Force Base’s  28th Medical Group Medical Treatment Facility, the Assignments Section, Youth Center and Child Development Center, in providing assistance to those families.

The goal of your EFMP Coordinator is to assist our Active Duty Service Members in managing the dual demands of a military career and having a family member with exceptional needs, whether medical, emotional, physical or educational.

The purpose of EFMP is to give consideration to the special needs of the exceptional family member during the assignment process.  The Air Force wants to take care of its families; recognizing the stressors that moving can have on our special needs family members. The clearance process that is part of the Exceptional Family Member Program is utilized to ensure that the proper care and services are available at the gaining location, prior to PCS. Enrollment in the EFMP enables families to recieve care coordination, referrals, information and extended services, such as TRICARE’s Extended Health Care Option (ECHO).

The purpose of identifying Airmen and their family members with special needs is to:

•	determine the ongoing necessary medical and educational services required for family members based on specific conditions
•	to support and ensure access to specialized services at the current and projected duty assignment
•	to protect federal rights and entitlements for mobile family members

Early identification and documentation of special needs in family members of active duty sponsors streamline the assignment process when relocation is initiated. The coordinated identification of special needs assists with the continuity of family member care through the sponsor’s Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and Temporary Duty (TDY). [AFI 40-701, 1.2.1]

What if you have a family member with special needs but do not seek assistance? Enrollment in the EFM program is mandatory as per AFI 40-701 as the aim of the program is to help monitors at AFPC assign Airmen to locations where family members special needs can be best met.

There is a stigma for many Airmen about identifying themselves as having a family member with special needs, also known as being “Q coded.” Often it is believed that the Airman will be prevented from deployments, TDYs, and special duty assignments.  This is not the case.

Actually, the Airman remains worldwide qualified. Yes, some accompanied assignment locations may be limited in order to preclude sending a service member and his/her family on orders to a duty station where adequate treatment and care is not available for the family members.

EFMP is designed to prevent family members from moving to locations where specific needs cannot be met; safe-guarding familieis from reduction in services and promoting effective use of available resources.