Refer to Quick Links and to Getting Started on Your Move for
additional information.
The Special Needs Identification Program (SNI)
Officer, formerly called the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Officer,
assists in finding services for family members with chronic medical,
psychological or educational needs. The Special Needs Identification
Program (SNI) is designed to provide assistance in finding services for children
and adult dependent of eligible military personnel. The Department of
Defense and Air Force policy have made it mandatory that sponsors with Special
Needs family members be identified. This allows officials to request
a special identifier code to be placed in the sponsor's personnel
record. The code assures that medical and educational services will
be available for all family members whenever an assignment is
considered.
ENROLLMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Personnel arriving with a
family member with special needs are required contact the individual's Primary
Care Manager (PCM), and also contact and enroll in the Special Needs
Identification Program (SNI) office and upon
arrival. These are individual cases and should be referred to SNI so
that all the services and education may be coordinated for the inbound
personnel. Dependents who are emotionally, physically, mentally
challenged are provided treatment under this program. This assistance
my be in the line of counseling, special medical or educational assistance, and
financial assistance. The SNI maintains a listing of on- and off-base
resources to assist families with all areas of need. This office also
helps members with a special needs family member find out if they may be
eligible to receive funds for respite care from the Air Force Aid
Society. Contact the SNI Office for details. The SNI
office is located in the Life Skills Support Center, Bldg 210, Room 2B10, (310)
363-1251, DSN 833-1251.
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN ARRIVING AT LOS ANGELES
AFB:
BRING COPIES OF ALL PAPERWORK:
- Medical records
- School
records
- Documentation of how the child was tested (results are valid for 3
years from the date of test)
FOR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS:
- If
under age 3, contact Early Childhood Intervention
- If over age 3, contact Los Angeles Unified School District or
your city's particular school district in which you reside. Contact
the principal of the school in your area to request an appointment with the
school guidance counselor to schedule a review and the admission of your special
needs family member
FOR CHILDCARE NEEDS:
- For on-base
childcare or before/after school care, you must provide a note from a base
doctor indicating any necessary modifications to environment, staffing, or
activities.
- For off-base childcare or before/after
school, details vary depending upon child's needs and resources at the
center. Care may not be available at some of these
centers. There may be an extra charge.
FOR MEDICAL NEEDS AND
ENROLLMENT IN THE SPECIAL NEEDS IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM: contact the
Los Angeles AFB Clinic at (310) 363-1251, DSN 833-1251.
IF A DISABILITY
OR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY IS SUSPECTED, BUT NOT DIAGNOSED:
Schedule an
appointment through the Los Angeles AFB Clinic,
- If under age 3,
contact Early Childhood Intervention
- If over age 3, contact Los
Angeles Unified School District or your city's particular school district in
which you reside. Contact the principal of the school in your area to
request an appointment with the school guidance counselor to schedule a review
and the admission of your special needs family member
If a diagnosis is
made, inform the Special Needs Identification Program at (310) 363-1251, DSN
833-1251.
Some health care needs are able to be taken care of at the Los
Angeles AFB Clinic; others are referred off-base (ensure that TRICARE procedures
are followed). The Los Angeles area has a wealth of resources to meet
special needs. Please refer to Contacts/Links for a partial list of
Los Angeles' abundant resources.