Navy EFMP consists of three interlocking support elements: Identification and Enrollment, Assignments and Family Support Services. Identification and Enrollment is performed by Navy Medicine. A potential enrollee can be self-identified by the family or may be identified by educational personnel at schools, medical personnel at medical treatment facilities or by civilian network providers. EFMP coordinators assist families with enrollment, status updates and disenrollment. Enrollment is updated every three years and 12 months before an anticipated PCS. To enroll, the service member submits the completed EFMP enrollment package to the EFMP coordinator at the nearest military treatment facility. The enrollment package is reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of medical providers and that panel recommends EFMP designation in one of six categories, based on the type, severity and frequency of medical/educational intervention required by the exceptional family member. Navy Personnel Command (NPC) then assigns the final category and annotates it the service member’s detailing record.
The next element, Assignment, involves the career management of service members provided at NPC. The NPC EFMP assignment support staff work to ensure that service members are assigned to geographic areas suitable for their exceptional family members. Every effort is made to match the sponsor’s career path with the needs of the family. All EFMP sponsors may be considered for accompanied overseas assignment based on the availability of required medical/educational services at the gaining location and successful completion of the overseas/suitability screening process by the sponsor and all family members. Sailors must maintain worldwide assignment eligibility, which means they may need to serve on unaccompanied tours to meet the mission requirements while their family is supported in another location.
Finally, Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) offers FFSC EFMP case liaisons at installation Fleet and Family Support Centers to provide non-medical case management and access to resources both on-base and in the local community. EFMP case liaisons work with families to develop Individual Service Plans, coordinate non-medical care, work with local schools, provide information and referrals to local community support resources and provide access to the EFM Respite Care Program (RCP). Navy’s EFMP RCP provides the parents and caregivers of children with special needs up to 40 hours of qualified childcare per month -- at no cost to the family – so parents and caregivers can leave the house, go to an appointment or just rest, while knowing that their child is well cared for.