Family members of active duty Airmen and civilian employees appointed to an overseas position, who meet one or more of the following criteria, will be identified as family members with special medical needs:
Potentially life-threatening conditions and/or chronic medical/physical conditions (to include, but not limited to, high-risk newborns, patients with a diagnosis of cancer within the last five years, sickle cell disease or insulin-dependent diabetes) requiring follow-up support more than once a year, or specialty care.
Current and chronic (duration of six months or longer) mental health condition (such as, but not limited to, bipolar, conduct, major affective or thought/personality disorders); inpatient or intensive outpatient mental health service within the last five years; intensive (greater than one visit monthly for more than six months) mental health services required at the present time. This includes medical care from any provider, including a primary health care provider.
A diagnosis of asthma or other respiratory-related diagnosis with chronic recurring wheezing that meets one of the following criteria:
-Scheduled use of inhaled and anti-inflammatory agents and/or bronchodilators.
-History of emergency room use or clinic visits for acute asthma exacerbations within the last year.
-History of one or more hospitalizations for asthma within the past five years.
-History of intensive care admissions for asthma within the past five years.
A diagnosis of attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that meets one of the following criteria:
-A comorbid psychological diagnosis.
-Requires multiple medications, psycho pharmaceuticals (other than stimulants) or does not respond to a normal dose of medication. Requires management and treatment by mental health provider (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker).
-Requires specialty consultant, other than a family practice physician or general medical officer, more than twice a year on a chronic basis.
-Requires modification of the educational curriculum or the use of behavioral management staff.
-Requires adaptive equipment (such as apnea home monitor, home nebulizer, wheelchair, splints, braces, orthotics, hearing aids, home oxygen therapy, home ventilator, etc.).
-Requires assistive technology devices such as communication devices or services.
-Requires environmental/architectural considerations such as limited number of steps, wheelchair accessibility/housing modifications and air conditioning.
FAMILY SUPPORT
At the A&FRC, and EFMP-Family Support (EFMP-FS) Coordinator is available to ensure each family receives comprehensive coordinated family support through the military and/or civilian community.
Relocation
A&FRCs provide incoming and outgoing relocation services to the Total Force, which includes civilian and contract employees who are relocating CONUS or OCONUS.
A&FRC provides relocation information that includes medical and educational information, along with related community agency referrals, housing, employment, financial management, moving-with-children skills, and a number of PCS-related topics.
One-on-one consultation is available to any Airman, DOD civilian, or military family member seeking information to support family members with special needs.
Support Groups
Families need information as well as support and encouragement so they can help their EFMs. Through educational meetings along with formal and informal discussions, families can share information, fears, hopes, and plans with other families while learning from one another.
If no local support group exists for a particular special need, the A&FRC may help facilitate and/or provide facilities and other resources to assist. Contact you EFMP-FS Coordinator for more information.
Military Child Education
Academic standards, promotion/graduation requirements, services for children with special needs, eligibility for sports and extracurricular activities, and procedures for transfer and acceptance of records vary greatly from state to state and district to district.
The School Liaison Officer serves as the primary POC for school-related matters, including special education preparation.
Active duty members are encouraged to notify the A&FRC readiness Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), School Liaison Officer, and school personnel of EFMs that may require additional support during deployment or extended TDY.
Recreation
Recreation activities offer many benefits to all individuals, regardless of age, gender, or special needs.
Through enjoyable recreation activities, individuals with special needs can gain new skills, learn what behaviors are accepted and learn how to fit in as a member of a group. Sports, crafts, music, dance, clubs, hobbies and many other types of youth programs are offered through installation, school, and community agencies. All services may not be available in all locations.
The A&FRC and Youth Programs provide assistance to ensure EFMs have access to installation recreation activities.
Respite Care Programs
Air Force Respite
The Air Force recognizes that parents with children with special needs need a break, and have partnered with Child Care Aware® of America to create a respite child care program for military families. Respite Child Care is designed for active duty Airmen who have children enrolled in EFMP and diagnosed with moderate or severe special needs. Respite child care is provided to eligible families at no cost to the family. Eligible families may receive up to 12 hours of respite care per month for each eligible child (up to 18 years old).
-Active duty Airmen enrolled in AF EFMP (Q-coded) are eligible.
-Guard/Reserve Airmen activated for at least 31 days are eligible.
For more information or to apply for Air Force respite, visit: http://usa.childcareaware.org/military-programs/military-families/air-force/
Respite child care can also be accessed through Child Care Aware.
NOTE: Families eligible to receive respite care at bases where USAF EFMP Respite Care is available are not eligible for this program.
Community Enhancement Programs
Give Parents a Break
This program is intended to help reduce stresses due to the nature of military life: deployments, remote tours of duty, caring for family members with special needs, frequent moves, extended working hours, etc.
-Families may be referred to this program by Commanders, 1st Sergeants, Chaplains, medical professionals and A&FRC staff.
-Certificates are issued for a specified period of time and may be renewed.
-Child care is provided at most base child development centers and youth centers during specified periods.
Child Care for PCS Program
This program is intended to help relieve some of the stress felt by Air Force families in the process of a PCS move. AFAS will pay for 20 hours of child care (per child) in Air Force-certified Family Child Care homes on base or in Air Force-affiliated homes off base.