Marines take care of exceptional family members

Courtesy Photo | Marine Corps Community Services Exceptional Family Member Program. (Courtesy MCCS Henderson Hall)  

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, UNITED STATES

07.16.2015

Story by Julia LeDoux 

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - Marines with family members who have special medical, behavioral and educational needs don’t have to go it alone as they balance meeting the demands of their military careers and family life.

The Marine Corps Community Services Exceptional Family Member Program on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall provides a variety of support services to ensure the continuum of care for Marines and their families who are enrolled in the program.

When it comes to the enrollment process, “we’re sort of the middle man, we’re sort of the conduit,” explained Henderson Hall EFMP Program Manager Mike Flaherty. “We review the paperwork and then forward it to Headquarters Marine Corps EFMP.” The Henderson Hall EFMP is responsible for serving Marines and their families throughout the National Capital Region, an area that encompasses 106 square miles, said Flaherty.

“We’re here to assist them,” he said.

Enrollment in the program is mandatory under Marine Corps Order 1754.4B. Among the conditions that can trigger the mandatory enrollment are a medical diagnosis of cerebral palsy or epilepsy; conditions which require the use of adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs and chronic mental health diagnoses.

Flaherty said the EFMP encompasses more than a Marine’s dependent children. It includes spouses as well as parents who are dependents of the Marine, like a Marine’s parent who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“This is not just for kids,” he said.

To be enrolled in the program, the military sponsor must have a medical professional fill out a form detailing the medical diagnosis. That form is then forwarded to Headquarters Marine Corps, which determines if EMFP eligibility requirements have been met, Flaherty said.

“The paperwork is good for three years, unless conditions change,” he added.

Flaherty stressed that enrollment in the EFMP does not affect a Marine’s career progression and does not make him or her ineligible for deployment or an overseas duty assignment.

“The program provides continual care from one duty station to another,” he said. “We call it the warm hand-off process.”

Enrolling in the EFMP gives participants access to a variety of programs and services, including connection to local, state and national resources and the respite reimbursement program, which provides subsidized payments for caregivers so family members who care for those who have special needs can take a temporary break from their duties.

Flaherty said the Henderson Hall EFMP serves 348 sponsors with 456 cases. For more information, call 703-693-7195 or email [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 07.16.2015
• Date Posted: 07.16.2015 18:18
• Story ID: 170269
• Location: JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US