The following resources provide important and current information specific to military families with children who have special needs.
MILITARY-CONNECTED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Help with disruptions in the continuity of early intervention services and special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program)
Dependents who qualify can receive Respite Care through the Air Force. Each branch of military is different when it comes to eligibility requirements. To find out if you or your dependent qualifies, reach out to the EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program) family support at your military installation.
SOURCE: U.S. Army Medical Department (https://efmp.amedd.army.mil/)
EFMP & Me: The Exceptional Family Member Program Resource
Use this tool to navigate through the Department of Defense’s network of services and support for families with special needs. For service members and their families: Their customized checklist builder makes it easy to stay organized and ensures you always have access to the latest information and resources. No sign-up is required, but you can choose to create an account to save your progress.
SOURCE: Military OneSource (https://efmpandme.militaryonesource.mil/)
EDUCATION
Air Force Military & Family Readiness Center EFMP-FS brings you LRP Publications’ Special Ed Connection® and DirectSTEP® eLearning courses FREE of charge! Click here to download an informational flyer.
Special Ed Connection is THE go-to online source for guidance on all your special education challenges — and the only source you need to keep current on education policy and legal developments. Relied on by more than 2,500 school districts, it’s the fastest, easiest, most authoritative way to stay connected to everything happening in special education. See how Special Ed Connection® can help you lead a compliant special education program and support your district’s Special Education staff — Click here to GET FREE ACCESS NOW
DirectSTEP® eCourses explain legal requirements and best practices for behavior management, autism, IDEA eligibility, IEPs and more. They also teach parents and educators how to handle critical education issues to obtain positive outcomes while applying education laws to the day-to-day world of teaching and learning. These eCourses are available for use by all Air Force staff, parents, Military/DoD personnel assigned to Air Force installations and K-12 educators serving military children. Click here to download Enrollment Key Codes for DirectSTEP® eLearning Courses.
Click here to access DirectSTEP® eLearning Courses. These courses offer:
~ Fresh engaging content
~ One-hour format
~ Can be used on most media devices
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) supports all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle.
SOURCE: https://www.militarychild.org/
Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Coaching Packages
Explore your interests, refresh your resume and jump-start your career by working with career coaches on specialized coaching packages. (https://myseco.militaryonesource.mil)
Spouse scholarships and careers
For scholarships available to Military Spouses to support furthering your education
SOURCE: National Military Family Association (https://www.militaryfamily.org/programs/spouses-scholarships/)
To learn about Military services education assistance programs
SOURCE: Military OneSource (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-spouses/for-spouses-benefits/)
FAMILIES • PROGRAMS • CONNECTION
STOMP HUB connects EFMP families, Parent Centers, and Military family support. Hub connects EFMP families, Parent Centers, and Military family support. IF THE QUESTIONS TO JOIN THE GROUP AREN’T ANSWERED YOUR REQUEST WILL BE DENIED. ALL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED. Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP) Hub Facebook Group
California Purple Star School Program was designed to help mitigate the challenges of high mobility by setting standards for and publicly designating military-friendly schools. Click here for a list of California Purple Star Schools (Excel).
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)
~ Find my school Liasions School Liaisons (mic3.net)
~ MIC3 Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/Interstatecompact/videos
TRICARE www.tricare.mil is an official website of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), a component of the Military Health System
~ Resources for Families with Special Needs
Military OneSource is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s network of support for the military community. For service members who have family members with special needs, Military OneSource assists with special education, financial planning, child care and much more to help your family thrive.
- Military and Family Life Counseling
MFLC counselors support service members, their families and survivors with confidential non-medical counseling on installations worldwide. - Flexible Spending Account for Dependent Care
Support for Military Personnel & Families | Military OneSource - Your Official Guide to U.S. Military Installations
The Military INSTALLATIONS Guide can help you find information about duty stations and local resources like installation overviews, contacts for programs and services, check-in procedures and community information for installations worldwide. Search by military installation, state resources, or programs and services to find everything you need - Apps found on the Military One Source Mobile Apps page:
The Virtual Hope Box (VHB) is a smartphone app designed for patients and their behavioral health providers as an accessory to treatment. The VHB contains simple tools to help patients with coping, relaxation, distraction and positive thinking.
~ Download Virtual Hope Box Fact Sheet.
~ Download the Free application here. - Breathe2Relax is an app that trains you on the “belly breathing” technique that has proven benefits for your overall mental health. Use the app’s breathing exercises to learn and practice on your own or as part of a stress management program supervised by your health care provider.
~ Learn more and find download options here.
SOURCE: https://www.militaryonesource.mil
National Military Family Association (NMFA) provides programs for kids, parents, and the entire family unit, including summer camps for kids as well as family retreats. Child Care Fee Relief is also offered occasionally through a program at the National Military Family Association, so be on the lookout for eligibility requirements and deadline dates. Watch a news video on the NMFA’s Video Newsletter Archive.
SOURCE: https://www.militaryfamily.org
Limited, free childcare available when Service Members deploy as well as for each Permanent Change of Station.
Please note: Each branch is different. Get in touch with your FCC (Family Child Care) Office to find out what is available for your family by clicking the links below:
• Travis: FCC Office contact information (https://travisfss.com/fcc/)
• Beale: FCC Office contact information (https://www.bealefss.com/family-child/)
The Military Spouse Preference Program (PPP) allows you to be uncompetitively considered for well-paid government positions.
SOURCE: Military Benefits (https://militarybenefits.info/military-spouse-employment-preference/)
PEATC, the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center has excellent resources. Please bear in mind that many are specific to the state of Virginia may be different than resources offered in California..
SOURCE: Military Outreach – PEATC https://peatc.org/services/military-outreach/