Leadership Information

Background

The Exceptional Family Member Program supports military families with special medical and educational needs.
A family member with special needs can be a spouse or other dependent adult, or child who:

• Requires medical services for a chronic condition
• Has significant behavioral health concerns
• Receives ongoing services from a medical specialist
• Is eligible for, or receives early intervention services through, an Individualized Family Service Plan – children birth through age 2
• Is eligible for, or receives special education services through, an Individualized Education Program – children ages 3 through 21

Key Points

Leadership at all levels should be familiar with their service-specific Exceptional Family Member Program regulations and policies.

Identification and Enrollment

When a family member is identified with special medical or educational needs, these are documented through enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program. Enrollment in the program is mandatory for active-duty service members. This allows medical and educational personnel to review the availability of medical and educational resources in projected assignment locations. This also ensures that the family member’s documented medical and educational needs are considered during the assignment process.

Paperwork required for enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program is available from the program’s medical point of contact at the installation military treatment facility or, in the Marine Corps, from Marine Corps Community Services.

Paperwork includes:

The DD Form 2792, “Family Member Medical Summary,” which documents medical needs. The service member, spouse or other adult family member completes the first page. The remainder is completed by the family member’s physician or other qualified medical professional and includes the diagnosis, frequency of care, medication and any special accommodations required.

The DD Form 2792-1, “Special Education/Early Intervention Summary,” which documents educational needs. The sponsor, parent or legal guardian completes items one through seven of the first page. The remainder of the form is completed by school or early intervention program personnel. The form includes the child’s educational diagnosis and is accompanied by a copy of the Individualized Family Service Plan or the Individualized Education Program.

After the appropriate medical or educational provider completes the form(s), they must be returned to the Exceptional Family Member Program medical point of contact.

Assignment coordination

The military mission is the driving force behind the assignment process, but the Exceptional Family Member Program enrollment ensures that a family member’s special needs are considered during that process. Assignment coordination occurs when the personnel command requests medical or educational professionals to review a family member’s documented needs (available because of the Exceptional Family Member Program enrollment) to determine availability of services at a projected location.

Assignment coordination is important, because access to appropriate medical and educational services may be limited in some locations, especially in overseas and remote areas. When assignment coordination occurs, family members receive the care and support they require, and the service member can focus more clearly on mission-related responsibilities.

Family support

The Exceptional Family Member Program family support assists families with special needs by helping them identify and access programs and services. It includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Information and referral for military and community services
• Education and outreach about issues related to the special need
• Referral to other family center providers
• Local school and early intervention services information
• Warm handoffs to the Exceptional Family Member Program at the next location
• Non-clinical case management

The Exceptional Family Member Program family support providers are primarily located at installation family support centers. Families not located near an installation may contact the nearest installation for assistance or call Military OneSource. Exceptional Family Member Program contact information can be found at:

• Service websites
• Installation family support centers
• MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
• Military OneSource at 800-342-9647

Guard and Reserve

Members of the National Guard or reserves may enroll according to service-specific guidance.