thedrifter
10-14-07, 05:56 PM
Corps to offer extra help to special-needs families
By Patricia Kime - pkime@militarytimes.com
Posted : October 22, 2007
Help is coming for Marine families with severely handicapped children or legal dependents, the Corps announced Sept. 19.
As part of its Exceptional Family Member Program, the Corps plans to offer up to 40 hours a month of temporary care to give families of children with special needs a break, according to Corps-wide message MarAdmin 555/07.
The benefit will be reserved for personnel “impacted by the Global War On Terror” whose EFMP dependents require round-the-clock care, the message states. Such severe disabilities would include those who lack self-help or age-appropriate skills, have severe seizure activity, sleep apnea or severe medical conditions.
Details are still being ironed out regarding program eligibility and implementation, said Bryan Driver, a Marine Corps Community Services spokesman, but the service recognizes a need to support these families.
“It will be paid for with GWOT funds,” he said.
One Marine family won’t be able to take full advantage of the program because their service member, a master sergeant, is assigned to a B-billet and will retire early next year.
But the master sergeant’s 37-year-old wife, who has four children — including two enrolled in the EFMP program who would have otherwise qualified for the care — praised the new benefit.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing. I know that when he deployed, which he did twice, I really could have used it,” said the spouse, who asked that her name not be used.
The Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to ensure that Marine dependents have access to adequate services and medical care.
Enrollment is mandatory for any Marine with a family member who is legally dependent on the Marine and meets the criteria. Typically, parents of children with special-education requirements, physical disabilities or mental-health needs are eligible.
As Marine Corps Community Services develops the respite care program, it has directed installations to implement individual plans to provide the care in the interim.
According to the message, care delivery options may include installation of child development programs, special needs child-care centers or visiting nurse services.
For more information, consult your base EFMP coordinator.
Ellie
By Patricia Kime - pkime@militarytimes.com
Posted : October 22, 2007
Help is coming for Marine families with severely handicapped children or legal dependents, the Corps announced Sept. 19.
As part of its Exceptional Family Member Program, the Corps plans to offer up to 40 hours a month of temporary care to give families of children with special needs a break, according to Corps-wide message MarAdmin 555/07.
The benefit will be reserved for personnel “impacted by the Global War On Terror” whose EFMP dependents require round-the-clock care, the message states. Such severe disabilities would include those who lack self-help or age-appropriate skills, have severe seizure activity, sleep apnea or severe medical conditions.
Details are still being ironed out regarding program eligibility and implementation, said Bryan Driver, a Marine Corps Community Services spokesman, but the service recognizes a need to support these families.
“It will be paid for with GWOT funds,” he said.
One Marine family won’t be able to take full advantage of the program because their service member, a master sergeant, is assigned to a B-billet and will retire early next year.
But the master sergeant’s 37-year-old wife, who has four children — including two enrolled in the EFMP program who would have otherwise qualified for the care — praised the new benefit.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing. I know that when he deployed, which he did twice, I really could have used it,” said the spouse, who asked that her name not be used.
The Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to ensure that Marine dependents have access to adequate services and medical care.
Enrollment is mandatory for any Marine with a family member who is legally dependent on the Marine and meets the criteria. Typically, parents of children with special-education requirements, physical disabilities or mental-health needs are eligible.
As Marine Corps Community Services develops the respite care program, it has directed installations to implement individual plans to provide the care in the interim.
According to the message, care delivery options may include installation of child development programs, special needs child-care centers or visiting nurse services.
For more information, consult your base EFMP coordinator.
Ellie