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There are many military families stationed throughout the state of Maryland. The United States Military has its own form of health care and support for families with a member with a disability. This section provides information regarding these programs for area military installations.
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a military program that identifies active duty military families with a member who had special medical needs and or special education needs. The program seeks to ensure that there are suitable services available for family members within their region. The EFMP can provide the following services:
- assist the service member in identifying available services at their next assignment
- confirm the availability of medical and educational support at oversees locations
- identify the need for assignment within major medical medical areas
Because special needs cannot currently be met at every duty station throughout the world, EFMP enrollment is mandatory for active duty members who have family members with chronic illness, mental illness, or disabilities. The primary function of EFMP is reassignment. The program does not always asssit in coordinating the child's care once reassigned. Some branches do offer additional programs that may be able to provide services such as respite care based on necessity and financial need. Under the Humanitarian Deferment, active duty personnel can ask for deferment of assignment and/or assignment nearest to the family member. This assignment may not be for more than 12 months. Contact your nearest military facility (several in Maryland are listed below) and ask for the EFMP coordinator or point of contact for both the EFMP and the Humanitarian Programs.
TRICARE is the military heath insurance plan for eligible family members of active-duty service members; military retirees and their eligible family members; surviving eligible family members of deceased active duty or retired service members and some former spouses of active or retired service members. Sierra Military Health Systems administers TRICARE in Maryland. For information contact the regional office of Sierra at 1-888-999-5195.
In addition to standard TRICARE benefits there is an additional benefit program for the dependents of active duty members who have a disability. The Program for Persons with Disabilities (PFPWD) is for persons who have been labeled as having moderate to severe mental retardation, or a serious physical disability. Active Duty members must apply for the program. Public funds and facilities must be either unavailable or insufficient to meet the child's need. The application must include a letter from a "proper public official" indicating this need. The program offers up to $1,000 per month in benefits that may include the following:
- Diagnostic services
- Treatment
- Training
- Special Education Services
- Transportation
- Durable Medical Equipment
It is important to check benefits under TRICARE and utilize these benefits before accessing PFPWD funds.
(The above information was obtained from Gateways to Health Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs, T. McIntire-Evans, W. Sciarillo, 2001. For more information this guide or health care, please visit the Health page in the Family NET Works Resource section.)
Maryland Resources
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Army Community Services-Aberdeen
Phone: (301) 278-7474
Abilities Network, Inc.
The Abilities Network, Inc., is working with Exceptional Family Member programs throughout the region to bring additional services to military families who have children with special needs. Abilities Network has learned from military families that they need help many kinds of services, from locating schools and doctors who have special expertise with various kind of disabilities and chronic health conditions to accessing services for their children through military insurance. Abilities Network can work with you and the EFMP programs to assist you with your needs throughout your child's life span, from birth to adult. Please assist in obtaining the necessary funding to provide this support by printing out the Military Family Survey.
Andrews Air force Base
DC Military.com
DC military.com provides information about local and national military programs including TRICARE, the military health care program and provides link to all major branches of the military.
Families Together - National Capital Region
Contact Peter J. Reynierse: (301) 330-7725 or (888-303-3277)
Fax: 301-990-4362
Email: FTNCR1@earthlink.net
Under a support grant from Family NET Works, this organization is conducting an outreach effort to the 4,000 military families in the capital region (which includes Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties). Families Together now offers parent/family support to military families in cooperation with Ft. Meade EFMP, National Naval Medical Center EFMP, and Pediatrics Physicians & Chaplains, USUHS - Uniformed Serices University of Health Sciences-faculty, & USMC Base Quantico (including on-base Military Representatives who are active duty military parents of a child with a disability who call or meet with parents of newly diagnosed children. Families Together is establishing similar relationships at Andrews AFB, Ft. Belvoir, Ft. Myers, and the Pentagon child development center. Download PDF file of the Families Together Brochure.
Ft. Meade
Army Community Services
Phone: (301) 677-5590
National Resources
Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)
Phone: (253) 565-2266 (voice/tty); 1-800-5-PARENT (voice/tty)
Fax: (253) 566-8052
E-mail: hhebdon@washingtonpave.com
STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents) is a federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center established to assist military families who have children with special education or health needs.
Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes offers a variety and news for military families on this website.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center website offers information for military families who have children with special health care needs.
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