Hill one of 35 air bases to get EFMP-FS

  • Published
  • By Catherine McNally
  • Hilltop Times staff
HILL AIR FORCE BASE --  In October Hill Air Force Base welcomed its newest program designed to assist special needs families. The Exceptional Family Member Program-Family Support (EFMP-FS), which is located at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, provides information, referral, advocacy and many other services to "exceptional families."

Though the EFMP program has been around for a while, the additional Family Support component is new, Tammy Custer, EFMP-FS coordinator, explained. "The way things will work now is EFMP-FS is the family support function, EFMP-M is the medical function and EFMP-A is the assignment function. The idea is that our three components now make a connection and work as a team."

Hill is one of only 35 Air Force bases that were selected to host this new program. This is yet another way the base seeks to provide and assist its special needs families, including a now yearly Families with Special Needs Summit and other base programs as well as Facebook and support groups run by Hill families.

"Hill AFB has been leading the Air Force with taking care of their special needs families and the Air Force is recognizing our effort," said Master Sgt. Daniel Bosche, security forces liaison with the 388th Fighter Wing. Bosche and his wife, who have a son with special needs, represented Hill at the Caring for People forum in April 2010, where they brought forward issues specific to having children with special needs while serving in the Air Force.

"Being one of the first Air Force installations to get the new EFMP-FS position just shows how much we have worked in providing assistance to those families in need of special care and soon the rest of the Air Force will benefit from this invaluable resource," Bosche continued. "All set from our example here at Hill Air Force Base."

The program is led by Custer, who acts as the EFMP-FS coordinator. Custer is no stranger to working with Hill's exceptional families, having previously worked as one of the Hill 360 Project navigators and having exceptional family members herself.

"I have two children that have special needs," Custer said. "While their (needs) aren't as significant as some families', it was still hard to find resources. Being able to provide that for other people is a good feeling."

"(This is) another right move for the right reasons to better serve our Department of Defense population and especially those with exceptional family needs issues," said Tom Badman, Airman and Family Readiness Center chief. "Custer comes to the center with experience as the installation 360 Project Navigator. We have begun the initial community outreach and by utilizing results from the spring Families with Special Needs Summit, look to quickly establish a robust EFMP-FS program for the Hill Air Force Base community."

Custer is ready to deliver any and all resources to special needs families through this permanent program. Through her, the EFMP-FS will provide information and referrals to families at Hill, which will include both base and local resources and services.

"Along the way I've built relationships with necessary agencies in the community and on base to be able to assist me in providing the right services," Custer said. "I think it's helpful for families to know they can come into a place they know and find a person who can find their necessary resources and see them through."

She also hopes to be able to provide other services such as advocacy, respite information, financial and relocation assistance and early intervention and school information. Custer is also helping to plan the second annual Families with Special Needs Summit, which is scheduled for March 23. Another hot topic is workshops, which she hopes to host at least on a quarterly basis.

Currently Custer is planning to host a Special Needs Medical and Education Records Keeping class, which aims to teach parents how to manage their records for their exceptional family members. The class is scheduled to take place Jan. 5 from noon to 2 p.m. at the base clinic's Education and Training room. Attendees will also receive a free special care organizational binder.

Other topics on her radar include Individual Educational Plans or IEPs, transitions to adult life and more.

Along with coordinating with Hill's other special needs resources such as the School Liaison Office, 75th Medical Group, 360 Navigators, local school districts, Utah Parent Center and even EFMP-FS programs at other bases, the EFMP-FS also has an advisory board where the 75th Force Support Squadron and other services are represented.

"The EFMP-FS committee is open to parents as well," Custer added.

The efforts to bring all of Hill's special needs resources don't stop there, either. Along with official base services, EFMP-FS coordinates with two Facebook groups run by families with special needs here at Hill AFB. The two groups --"Hill AFB Autism Support Group" and "Families with Special Needs Children at Hill AFB" -- are specifically geared for Hill's families with special needs and can be found by entering their names into the Facebook search.

"We all feel that we should be there, connected to what's happening," Custer explained as she talked about how Hill's special needs resources are working together to provide the best services for families.

Families should be aware that all information discussed with the family support coordinator will remain confidential and cannot be released without permission. Enrollment in the EFMP program is encouraged so that the documented needs of family members are considered when getting an assignment. Families should also be aware that enrollment in EFMP will not adversely affect selection for promotions, schools or assignments and does not guarantee assignment deletions, deferments or compassionate reassignments.

Custer and all of Hill's special needs representatives hope that the EFMP-FS will be an additional way for special needs families to successfully find the resources they need and feel comfortable that they will be taken care of.

"I would like (the families) to know that when they come they've got all of the resources behind them," Custer said.

"Hill Air Force Base is a trend setter when it comes to the integrated support to our over 300 families with special needs," said Col. Donald Hickman, 75th Medical Group commander. "Our new EFMP-FS coordinator will enable us to build an even better support system and network for these true American families. As our Airmen continue to fight our nation's wars, they will know that their Air Force is doing all that it can to take care of their families while they are deployed in distant lands. This peace of mind is critical to their success, be it here at Hill Air Force Base or in Afghanistan."