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Information for providers supporting military families

Whether you’re a medical professional, educator, community or civilian support provider, or hold another relevant role, you’re supporting military families — and you may not be aware of all the resources available to them. If you’re looking to learn more about military life or locate resources specifically for military families with special medical or educational needs, you’re in the right place.

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Office of Special NeedsSpecial Ed & Early InterventionGet to Know Military LifeResources for Military Families

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Office of Special Needs

The War Department’s Office of Special Needs supports military family members of all ages with medical and educational needs. OSN develops policy and provides oversight for the Exceptional Family Member Program and the provision of special education services offered through the DOW. OSN collaborates with the military services to ensure families have access to the resources, services and support they need to thrive within the military community.

Exceptional Family Member Program

The Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, is a mandatory enrollment program that provides comprehensive, coordinated support and services to military families with special needs. It’s comprised of three components:

  • Identification and enrollment: This is the point of entry into EFMP. When a family member is identified as having special medical or educational needs, medical services will coordinate the documentation of those needs and the service member’s enrollment in EFMP.
  • Assignment coordination: With the family member’s special medical or educational needs documented, EFMP assignment staff and military personnel departments work together to coordinate assignments to locations that have the resources to address those needs.
  • Family support: Family support providers help families navigate the identification and enrollment and assignment coordination processes. They provide individualized support to families and help them become their own best advocate by providing information and referrals on services, education outreach, a warm handoff to EFMP at their next location and more.

DOW provision of special education and early intervention services

Department of War Education Activity

The Department of War Education Activity is the federal agency that runs pre-K through 12 schools on behalf of the War Department. DoWEA operates 161 accredited schools in nine districts located in 11 foreign countries, seven U.S. states, Guam and Puerto Rico. It serves approximately 67,000 children of active-duty military and DOW civilian families.

DoWEA provides special education and related services to its students ages 3 through 21, inclusive. Students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment based on the student’s individual needs.

Educational and Developmental Intervention Services

DOW’s EDIS works to maximize the potential of children who are identified or at risk for delays and provides strategies to assist in their development and independence. EDIS is responsible for providing early intervention services to children from birth to age 3 on military installations supported by DOW schools.

Get to know military life

PCS

Most military families receive orders to relocate every two to three years. This PCS means the family will be starting over in a new location. For families with special medical or educational needs, this can be a frustrating and trying time. They may need to find a new school or specialty medical providers and maybe even navigate changes with insurance. For school-age children, a new location can also mean a new school.

Deployment

When a service member is deployed or temporarily assigned somewhere, they can be away from their family for an extended period of time. During the deployment, the spouse may be solely responsible for managing the child’s medical and educational needs, finding child care or respite care, and navigating unexpected medical, educational or financial issues. 

Military life can be very rewarding, but it can include many changes and transitions, and the uncertainties that can go along with them. That’s why your expertise and knowledge of information such as state special education policy and local school resources can make all the difference for a military family seeking support.

Resources for our military families

EFMP & Me

EFMP & Me is an online tool that helps military families with special needs solve problems, stay organized and informed, locate support and plan ahead. It expands and tailors support to help families quickly navigate services, connect with resources and advocate for themselves or their family member with special needs — anytime and anywhere.

Military OneSource

Military OneSource provides information and resources to help service members and their families thrive.

The Military OneSource website contains robust online information and resources vetted by the War Department. It connects service members, their families, survivors and the entire military community with programs, services and products developed for military life.

Refer the families you support to these resources, where they’ll find a wealth of information and benefits to help them advocate for their family member.

Thank you for supporting our military families. To find more resources, go to the Military OneSource Special Needs Topic Center. You can also stay up to date by subscribing to the Exceptional Advocate eNewsletter.

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