Season 2 Episode 11: EFMP
On today’s episode of Ruck up Buttercup we are chatting about EFMP. A topic that has come up a lot this year as we talk about PCS but also will continue to come up as the new school year begins with IEP’s. EFMP the Exceptional Family Member Program is set up by the military to provide additional services to families with members that need to be provided additional services and medical appointments due to a specific condition that their primary provider can’t accommodate. This ranges from seasonal bronchitis, heart conditions, migraines, to more challenging diagnosis like speech apraxia, ADHD, and autism. There is a wide range in which they cover and families are required to enroll in EFMP. The program is meant to protect families with medical needs during moves in order to make sure that you are only sent to places where you will receive proper services.
Our amazing guests Kirtley Adams and Jesica Ogden are both heavily involved in the EFMP world. Kirtley currently volunteer with EFMP at Fort Benning and is a wealth of knowledge she also has a 7 year old son who is enrolled. Jesica is a licensed advocate and deals on a daily basis with her 3 children being enrolled and receiving services. Their experience has come with SO MUCH LEARNING. They share so many valuable facts and tidbits that we didn’t even know existed.
All of the resources they mentioned are included below, but as always we want to really encourage you to do your research. Yes we talk about these as challenges, but they are all things you can get through. And they are SO WORTH IT in the long run. You are going to learn, grow and experience so many things through this opportunity. Your kids or yourself may be dealing with things that require a little more attention but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the same experiences and it is wonderful to see that there are programs like these available to help.
If you know any resources for these challenges that will be helpful to the listeners PLEASE send them our way so we can better help families.
Resources mentioned on today’s show:
EFMP: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/special-needs/exceptional-family-member/
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/leaders-service-providers/efmp-special-needs/branch-support-services
ECHO: https://newsroom.tricare.mil/Articles/Article/2561363/what-is-echo-and-how-do-i-enroll
Medicaid: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/sign-up/ready-to-sign-up-for-part-a-part-b
Advocates: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-find-a-special-education-advocate
EFMP Forms: DA 2792 is the form to enroll in EFMP, and DA 2792-1 is to enroll in educational EFMP
Welcome to Holland Poem: https://www.emilyperlkingsley.com/welcome-to-holland
Kirtley Adams: hello@kirtleymichelle.com
Jesica Ogden: Jesica.Ogden@gmail.com
Find Ruck Up Buttercup: www.instagram.com/ruckuppodcast
Deployed Love: www.deployedlove.org
