The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is designed to help Airman ensure the continuum of care for family members with special needs. The primary purpose of EFMP is to provide coordination and support throughout the assignment process, ensuring the availability and accessibility of needed services for the family while meeting the mission of the Air Force.
An Exceptional Family Member (EFM) is defined as an authorized family member (spouse, child, stepchild, adopted child, foster child, or dependent parent) enrolled in DEERS and residing with the sponsor, unless the sponsor is on an unaccompanied assignment. The EFM must possess continued specialized needs in areas such as physical, intellectual, or emotional disability that requires medical or educational services.
Respite Care: The Air Force Aid Society Respite Care Program is for active duty Air Force families who have a family member with special needs and are enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. The goal of the program is to provide a "break" for a few hours a week or a month to families who have the responsibility of 24 hour a day care for an ill or disabled family member living in the household. AFAS assistance for respite is based on need- the need for respite time, as well as financial need, and is always given as a grant. To obtain a Respite Care Certificate, see your EFMP-Family Support Specialist located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Bldg 220. Overview of Respite Care Program
Resource Center: The center has an abundance of free reading materials available for checkout. Books cover topics such as IEP’s, the Autism Spectrum, health-related issues, ADD/ADHD, parenting survival guides, and a large assortment of other medical, educational and behavioral materials.
Referrals: Whether you are new to the island, have been here for years, or are about to PCS to your new duty station, your EFMP coordinator can help link you to services you and your special need member may need, or not even know about! The EFMP Coordinator can also give referrals for respite care through the Air Force Aid Society.
Identification & Enrollment Assistance:Per AFI 40-701 and DODI 1315.19, enrollment in the EFMP is mandatory, if criteria for eligibility has been met. If you believe you or a family member should be enrolled, or if you are unsure about your enrollment status, your EFMP-FS Specialist can help. All EFMP forms are available for download from this website and your EFMP-FS Specialist can help you with completing them if you should need assistance. Your EFMP-FS Specialist and the Special Needs Coordinator work very closely to ensure you and your family will have access to the services your EFM needs at your current and future duty stations.
Workshops/ Events: The Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program works very closely with both the Marine Corps and Army Exceptional Family Member Programs to bring all-inclusive or "purple" workshops and events to both EFMP enrolled families and the military community as a whole. Whether it's an EFMP sponsored program on Kadena, Camp Foster or Torii Station, everyone is eligible to participate. Informative and interactive workshops are held monthly on both Kadena AB and Camp Foster. To find out more about our upcoming events or workshops, please visit our Facebook page or call 634-3366 for more information.
EFMP-Family Support Specialist:Whether you are new to the program or the island, have been here for years or are about to PCS, your EFMP-FS Specialist can help link you to services that you or your EFM may need, as well as provide you with a “warm hand-off” to your next duty station’s EFMP-FS Specialist who can help you with the transition to your new duty station.
Your EFMP-FS office located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center has an abundance of free books and DVD’s available for you to check out on such topics as: Autism, IEP’s, ADD/ADHD, and various other medical, educational and behavioral topics. This is a free service to EFMP enrolled families
Relocation Support Resources: For questions regarding medical clearance and screenings, contact the Special Needs Coordinator at EFMP-M@kadena.af.mil.
For questions regarding EFMP assignments please contact your Military Personnel Services center.
For questions regarding schooling issues or PSC schooling questions contact the Kadena School Liaison office at 18msg.kadenaslo@kadena.af.mil.
Training: Enrollment in EFMP is mandatory, and we want everyone to know this to ensure all necessary members are enrolled. The EFMP aims to help ensure that our Active Duty members are able to complete their mission while having the comfort of knowing their special need family members will be taken care of no matter where they go. We strive to have educated commands, sponsors and key spouses to spread the word about the program and available resources for our families.
EFMP Coordinator: For assistance with any of the above information, or if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center’s EFMP Coordinator at 634-3366. It would by our pleasure to help you and your special need family members to continue thriving while here on Kadena Air Base and at all future duty locations.
Airman & Family
Readiness Center Kadena Air Base • Okinawa, Japan
18th Force Support Squadron/FSFR
Unit 5134 Box 80
APO AP 96368-5134
