Resources for Military Families With Special Needs

For families with special needs, the Department of Defense Office of Special Needs Exceptional Family Member Program provides support and resources to help you thrive in military life. Now, the new EFMP & Me online tool, available through Military OneSource, expands and tailors support to help you quickly navigate services, connect with resources and advocate for yourself or your family member with special needs ‒ anytime, anywhere.

Designed for military families with special needs ‒ with the caregiver in mind ‒ EFMP & Me can be used by both families enrolled in EFMP and those who are eligible to enroll. The website also gives EFMP Family Support providers and military leaders another tool to guide families to the resources they need.

Ways EFMP & Me puts you in charge

EFMP & Me can be used on any computer or mobile device – so you always have information and resources at your fingertips:

• Help understanding and finding medical and educational resources
• Step-by-step support for EFMP enrollment, PCS preparation, deployment and other military life moments
• Convenient 24/7 access to EFMP resources and services from a range of programs.

Begin using the tool by answering a few questions on the homepage. Then, you can select the categories that reflect your needs and interests, including:

• About EFMP and Enrollment
• Child Care
• Education
• Medical
• Deployment
• Accessibility and Housing
• PCS
• Family and Community Life
• Separation and Retirement
• Long-Term Financial Planning

The tool lets you choose from the checklists available in each category. Each checklist can be expanded to display related tasks, tips, programs, and other resources. Tips often include links to helpful resources outside of the tool. If you are logged in, you can save your progress on a checklist, return to it another time, or download a PDF of the checklist.

You do not need a Military OneSource account to use the tool. However, an account allows you to save your checklists and return to them anytime. Follow the directions on the homepage to log in or create an account.

You can also use EFMP & Me to sign up for the quarterly Exceptional Advocate eNewsletter, a publication for families with special needs, to contact EFMP Family Support staff, or to learn more about how the program can help you and your family.

EFMP & Me enhances and supplements the services of the Exceptional Family Member Program Family Support, which are available to families at their nearest installation office. EFMP serves families by making sure special needs are considered during assignments and by easing access to assistance wherever families are.