The Exceptional Family Member Program serves military families by coordinating with other military and civilian agencies to provide medical, dental, mental health, developmental, educational, and community support to families with special needs. It can also assist with housing, adaptive equipment, assistive technology devices and wheelchair accessibility. The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for service members with qualifying family members. All branches of the military have EFMP, and use the same enrollment process. Enrollment in the EFMP ensures maximum provision of services to the family throughout the sponsor’s career.
The goal is to have the service member work and live in a community that can accommodate his or her family members' special medical or educational needs.Exceptional Family Members may be children or adults with any physical, developmental, intellectual, or emotional disorder that requires special treatment, education, training therapy, or counseling. Enrollment is required immediately upon diagnosis or identification of a special need.Some conditions that warrant enrollment to EFMP include (but not limited to):
The following service members with EFMs (children and adults) will enroll in EFMP: Medical Enrollment Criteria
Educational Enrollment Criteria
How to Enroll
The EFMP Medical Summary Form (DD Form 2792) is completed by the sponsor / spouse and primary care provider. The EFMP Educational Summary Form (DD Form 2792-1) is completed by the sponsor / spouse and school. Both of these forms are sent to the EFMP office for processing. Enrollment should be updated every three years, or upon change in medical condition.
How to Disenroll
Reasons to disenroll from EFMP include change in medical condition (resolved / no longer exists), or in cases of death, divorce, change in custody, etc. Please contact the EFMP office for the proper paperwork to disenroll the family member. The medical care provider must address why all previous annotated diagnoses are resolved. For all other cases, supporting documentation such as death certificate or divorce decree must be included.
Submitting Packets
All packets (DD Forms 2792 and 2792-1) should be submitted during walk-in hours between 8 a.m. and noon. One of our office personnel will review the packet with you at that time to ensure it is complete. Once it is properly completed, the packet will be sent for medical review, a process which takes approximately 10 business days. Upon completion of the medical review, the packet will be sent for submission to the regional command.
Packets may also be dropped off; however, because they may be incomplete, it may take longer than 10 days before submission to the regional command. Service members should make and maintain a copy of the submitted packet.
Enrollment Forms
The required forms for enrollment are available here:
Please use these fillable e-forms when possible and ensure all hand-written entries are legible. This will reduce errors and delays due to unreadable information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is an Exceptional Family Member?
An Exceptional Family Member is a Family Member (child or adult) with physical, emotional, developmental or intellectual disability that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training or counseling.
Is the Exceptional Family Program Mandatory?
Enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program is mandatory, based on public law and Department of Defense mandates. It works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated medical, educational, housing, community support and personnel services to Service Member’s Families with special needs.
How do I enroll in the Exceptional Family Member Program?
The service member contacts the Exceptional Family Member Program medical point of contact to begin the assessment process and obtain the enrollment forms. If your family member/s is seen for medical care at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital your enrollment will take place at the Pediatrics clinic, River Pavilion, Floor 1, Reception 3.
The DD Form 2792-1 should be completed by the school or early intervention social worker. Once these forms are completed and turned in they are forwarded to the appropriate regional medical center for coding and then to the service specific agencies that enrolls the Service Member in the program.
If my family member is enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program can my family go with me overseas?
The Exceptional Family Member Program medical staff screens all family members for possible enrollment in this program. If the family member has any type of special medical, emotional or educational need, their packet is sent forward to Overseas Reassignment Exceptional Family Member Program for determination for availability of services. If services are available, family members may accompany the service member. However, accompanied tours are not guaranteed and do not have an impact on operational assignments, to include deployments.
Does enrollment have any impact on the service member's career?
Enrollment in EFMP does not adversely affect selection for promotion, schools, or assignment. Information concerning enrollment in EFMP or any of the data used in the program is not made available to selection boards.
What are the benefits of enrollment in EFMP?
Enrollment allows assignment managers at service specific agencies to consider the documented medical and special education needs of Exceptional Family Members in the assignment process. When possible, service members are assigned to an area where the medical and special education needs of the Exceptional Family Member can be met. This will depend on the valid personnel requirement for the service member’s grade, specialty, and eligibility for the tour. All service members are still eligible for worldwide assignments.
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital's EFMP office can provide information, referral, recreational activities, educational, medical and family services needs, and can assist service members with single-level housing (pending qualification and availability).
What is the ECHO Program?
Tricare Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) is a financial assistance program that provides for services and supplies beyond what is offered by Tricare. Enrollment in EFMP must be completed to be eligible for ECHO. Examples of things covered by ECHO include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) or additional durable medical equipment (DME).