Family members coming to Beale with an Exception Family Member
(EFMP) child should contact their current medical facility for coordination on
special educational needs. For specific information about schools and
disabilities, contact school district superintendent's office.
The
Special Needs Identification and Assignment Coordination process identifies
family members with special needs for reassignment purposes. These processes
re-engineer the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) described in AFI
40-301, Family Advocacy, May 2002. Originally, EFMP was known as Children Have a
Potential (CHAP). CHAP predated AFR 160-33, Family Advocacy, September 1992, and
served only children.
Historically, the Air Force has supported family
members with disabling conditions. Social workers and mental health technicians
were trained in the CHAP management course at Sheppard AFB, TX. Chaplains
originated programs for children with disabling conditions and Family Support
personnel hosted support programs. EFM Programs for AF families with special
needs members experienced wide variability from base to base.
The current
Special Needs Identification and Assignment Coordination process supports
personnel assignments. When families relocate, the process is critical to
determine the availability of services for spouses and children with special
needs. The process links the services of the Military Personnel Flights, the
Medical Treatment Facilities, and the Family Support Centers.