efmp news feb. 12

EFMP News • February 2012 Bldg. 2140, Room 400/253-967-9704/9705 1

EFMP NewsYour free guide to EFMP services, entertainment and educational opportunities on Joint Base Lewis-McChord

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Exceptional Family Member Program February 2012

Changing FinancialHabits in 2012

EFMPPlaygroup

Page 5

Page 6

Page 3

CompanionshipSibshops

EFMP News • February 2012 Bldg. 2140, Room 400/253-967-9704/9705 22 EFMP News • February 2012 Bldg. 2140, Room 400/253-967-9704/9705 3

In this issue:

EFMP News Editor/Graphic Design:

Johanna [email protected]

Army Community Service (ACS)

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Bldg. 2140, Waller Hall, Rm. 400JBLM-Lewis Main

EFMP Program Manager: Mary Herrera253-967-9704

EFMP Staff Members:Nancy Dozier:253-967-9705Carol Watrous:253-967-3451Jackie Kelley:253-967-3520Jaclyn Gilley:253-967-3553Terry Giles: 253-966-5393

Cheryl Hoyson: 253-967-5795Timmy Milligan: 253-967-9097

Anthony Buggage: 253-982-2695

The EFMP office has an open-door policyregarding assistance to our families. Please feel free to contact us if you have any ques-tions about available services, concerns, or if you need resources or advocacy on Joint Base Lewis-McChord or in the civiliancommunity.

Storytime, pg. 2

EFMP Coffee Group, pg. 3

Financial Habits for 2012, pg. 5

Childreach, pg. 7

Storytime at McChord LibraryFeb. 2, 9, 16, and 23; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. McChord Library. Join the fun. For more information, call 253-982-3107.

JBLM Autism Support GroupFeb. 3; 7 - 9 p.m., Family Resource Center, JBLM-Lewis Main. See details on page 6.

Companionship Swim NightFeb. 3; 7 - 8:30 p.m., Clover Park High School pool, 11023 Gravelly Lake Drive, Lakewood.

Floortime Class at Children’sTherapy UnitFeb. 4; 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Class is for parents and caregivers. Cost: $40 per person; schol-arships available upon request. Instructor: Dawn Heino, OTR/L. Contact Normajean McClure 253-697-5225 for more details.

Special Families of Pierce CountyFeb. 6; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. See details on page 6.

Eastside Community Inclusion ProgramFeb. 9; 6 - 8 p.m. “Networking with Parents” Columbia Jr. High, 2901 54th Ave. East, Fife. Call Sarah at 253-565-2266 for details.

Mom’s Night Out(Dads welcome too!)Feb. 10; 6:30 p.m. @ BJ’s Restaurant, Ta-coma Mall. Down Syndrome Support Group holds their monthly “night out” on the sec-ond Friday of the month at local restaurants.

Meetings are open to any parent who has a child with a chronic health care need or disability. For additional information contact Carolyn Jones at 253-970-7264 or email [email protected].

JBLM EFMP Support GroupFeb. 14; 6 - 7 p.m., Bowl Arena, JBLM-Lewis Main. See details on page 6.

Westside Community Inclusion ProgramFeb. 15; 6 - 8 p.m. “Coping Strategies for Families,” Drum Intermediate, University Place. Speaker: Vanessa Tucker. Free dinner, child and youth activities. Seven day notice for interpreter services. Meeting will be canceled in the event of severe weather. Call Susan at 253-565-2266 for additional details.

Peninsula Community Inclusion ProgramFeb. 17; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., “Power of the Youth,” Goodman Middle School, Gig Harbor. Call Michele at 253-565-2266 for additional information.

JBLM life...


Save The Date!Mar. 24; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., South Sound Autism Partnership Spring Confer-ence and Resource Fair, Tacoma

EFMP News is an authorized unofficial commu-nity information source published for members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord EFMP community. There is no U.S. government endorsement of any commercial sponsor. Editorial content is pro-vided by Exceptional Family Member Program, Army Community Service, and Family & Morale Welfare and Recreation offices. Submissions are welcome, but will be edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity and journalistic style. Submissions are due on the first day of the month, one month prior to publication date. EFMP News is published monthly. Circulation: 1000. Send submissions to: [email protected]

Policy We encourage letters to the editor, but they must be signed. We will consider withholding the name of the author upon request. Letters regard-ing an issue should contribute to informational interest.

We reserve the right to edit all material for style, to fit available space, to resolve libel, force protection and grammar.

Although the information in the issue is current at time of publication, activities and events are subject to change. Please contact the activity for confirmation.

February EventsEFMP Coffee GroupFeb. 14; 10 - 11 a.m., Battle Bean, AFC Arena, JBLM-Lewis Main. Meet other adult EFMs or caregivers of EFMs for coffee. Call 253-967-3553 for more information; no RSVP required.

MCEC WorkshopFeb. 16; 9:30 - 10:30 p.m., teen, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. school age, ACS classroom, Waller Hall, Bldg. 2140, 12th and Liggett, JBLM-Lewis Main.

EFMP Sensory Friendly MovieFeb. 18; 12 - 2 p.m., McChord Field Base Theater. Free movie; snacks available for a fee. Call 253-982-2695 for more details.

EFMP PlaygroupFeb. 22; 10 - 11 a.m. Raindrops & Rain-bows, Bldg. 2197, American Lake Avenue, JBLM Lewis-North. Are you a mom or dad who has a young child who is enrolled in EFMP? Or, are you a parent enrolled in EFMP who has a young child? Come out and meet other parents and their children in our playgroup! This event is for Exceptional Families with young children ages 5 yrs. and under. The Military Child Education Coalition will present a “mini-workshop” on activities you can do with your child cen-tered around science. Call 253-967-3553 for more information; no RSVP is required.

EFMP EventsEFMP Winter SnowballDance SocialFeb. 25; 7 – 9 p.m., Four Chaplains Memo-rial Chapel, Bldg. 9120, Jackson Ave and Transmission Line Road, JBLM Lewis-Main, Fellowship Hall. Enjoy your favorite dance tunes, DJ, contests, and light snacks with friends and family. This event is open to all EFMP registered families; one guest per family member is permitted. All chil-dren MUST be accompanied by an adult. For more information call at 253-967-9705.

JBLM EFMP Working Focus GroupFeb. 2; 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., ACS Classroom, Waller Hall, Bldg. 2140, JBLM-Lewis Main.Our Mission: To identify a broad range of global issues impacting Exceptional Families within the JBLM and Army Communities. We will work collectively with senior leadership, medical personnel, community and DoD agencies to improve service delivery and quality of life. We extend an invite to anyone who is passion-ate about Exceptional Families, whether you are an Exceptional Family Member (EFM), a parent/spouse of an EFM, a unit representative, Key Spouse, Senior Spouse, representative of a local school or agency, etc. Call 253-967-9704 if you have any questions; no RSVP required to attend.

EFMP Resources On and Around JBLMFeb. 7; 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Madigan Medical Mall, ground floor. Special needs resource fair featuring service providers on JBLM and surrounding area. Call 253-967-9705 for more information.


Special Needs DisenrollmentP R O C E S S

by Michele Gross, RNParent of Special Needs Child, President, JBLM EFMP Support Group

An Exceptional Family Member (EFM) is still enrolled in EFMP until the service member com-

pletes the official disenrollment process. The following information may prove useful.

EFMP official documentation must be updated every three years, at a minimum, or sooner, if the EFM’s needs change. Fail-ing to update an EFMP enrollment does not automatically remove the service member from the EFM program. An EFM remains enrolled until the service member com-pletes the disenrollment process. Further-more, the service member will remain in a delinquent status until the documentation processing procedure is complete.

As of August 2011, 25 percent (over 13,000) of Army EFMP enrollments, worldwide, were outdated. JBLM has approximately 5,000 EFMP enrolled family members, with 24 percent outdated. Per ALARACT message, 325/2011, effective September 29, 2011, all service and family members, commanders and other responsible orga-nizations will comply with AR 608-75 and AFI 40-701. Active duty personnel, whose EFMP documentation is not current,

will be counseled accordingly; failure to comply with counseling may be subject to disciplinary action. To avoid adverse per-sonnel actions, the official EFMP disenroll-ment instructions are listed below.

• Obtain EFMP form (DD 2792 for medical and DD 2792-1 for Special Education Services) from www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2792.pdf, www.dtic.mil/whs/direc-tives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2792-1.pdf or www.jblmmwr.com/acs_efmp.html. Hard copies of the EFMP enrollment forms are available at both the ACS EFMP and Madigan EFMP offices.

• Make an appointment with the Primary Care Provider or Physician Specialist who manages the Exceptional Family Member’s care. When scheduling an appointment, be sure to indicate that it is for an EFMP enrollment update, to ensure a 30 minute versus 15 minute appointment time.

• Soldier or Spouse completes pages one and two, as well as the sponsor information at the top of each page.

• Take form(s) to the EFM’s scheduled appointment. Understand that forms are lengthy and take time to complete ac-curately. You may be asked to return at a later date to pick up the forms, to provide sufficient time for the provider to review medical records, etc. This appointment is to discuss EFMP enrollment criteria only.

• Pick up completed form(s) from pro-vider, make copies for your records, and take the ORIGINAL packet to the Madigan EFMP office, located on 1st floor, Medical Mall, between Developmental Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine/Specialty Pedi-atrics.

• Once the documents have been re-viewed, entered into the system, certified, and sent to Human Resources Command (to be annotated on the service-member’s personnel record), a printed copy of the OFFICIAL designation can be picked up at the Madigan EFMP office. Maintain this with your original EFMP documents for future reference.

Medical adviser offices are located inside Madigan Healthcare System’s pediatrics clinic between the Developmental and Adolescent clinics on the first floor of the


CHANGING FINANCIAL HABITSin 2012

Do you recall planning a wedding or the perfect honeymoon? Do you realize that most people plan for months for that perfect wedding day, but fail to talk about how they will finance the rest of their lives? Discussing finances can lead to a rush of emotions that range from defensiveness to anxiety. However, effective communication is the key to planning your life together. In a perfect world, you would mar-ry someone who has the same attitude towards finances. In other words if you were a spender you would marry a spender, a saver would marry a saver, and so on. Since this is not usually the case, it’s important to discusses with your spouse your attitude and goals about money. For the most part, communication breaks down when people fail to adequately say what and how they feel in a non-threatening manner. Approaching these conversations can be scary or intimidating, but with a few tips you can begin to open the door to effective financial communication.

• Pick a time to talk when neither you nor your spouse is rushed.• Set clear expectations. For example, only one person talks at a time, all ideas and concerns should be evaluated, no sarcastic remarks, and have an open mind.• Do not be judgmental. People tend to stop listening when they are being judged.• Discuss both short-term (a year or less) and long-term financial goals.• Keep good eye contact throughout the conversation. Let your spouse know you are listening to his/her ideas, concerns and goals. • Listen without prejudice, preconceived ideas or judgments. Do not presume you know what your spouse will say, even though you may have heard it before. Repetition from your spouse only means this issue is important to her/him. • Place yourself in your spouse’s situation. Empathize and try to feel the way she/he feels. • Set time aside each week to discuss bills, upcoming expenses, and financial changes. Knowing both of you have scheduled time to talk about finances can reduce the anxiety. Remember, practice makes perfect.

Effective communication is vital in a marriage. Realize that conflict arises as a result of miscommunication or no communication. Invest-ing time in your financial communication can strengthen your relationship. If you are interested in personal budget counseling give Army Community Service a call at 253-967-1453 or the Airmen & Family Readiness Center at 253-982-2695 to schedule an appointment.

by Ryki CarlsonACS Financial Counselor

DisenrollmentP R O C E S S

medical mall. All EFMP enrollments at JBLM are processed through this office. Air Force family members with special needs are serviced through the SNIAC office, located at the McChord Medical Clinic on Barnes Blvd, JBLM-McChord Field. Remember to keep a copy of all screening, documentation, and submitted forms for your personal records.

JBLM-Lewis Main ACSEFMP Support Services 253-967-9704/9705

www.JBLMmwr.comwww.facebook.com/efmpjblm

Special Needs Resource Information:JBLM-McChord Field SNIAC/FMRC office 253-982-3350

Madigan Healthcare System EFMP 253-968-1370/0254


JBLM EFMP Support Group

JBLM EFMPSG is a non-profit, private organization that offers meetings and guest speakers. Monthly meetings are on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the AFC Arena

on JBLM-Lewis Main, Back Party Room. Food and drink are available for purchase. Additional events will alternate between JBLM-McChord Field, JBLM-Lewis Main and JBLM-Lewis North. Join their face-book page, www.facebook.com/JBLME-FMPSG, or Lewis-McChord EFMPSG, to keep up to date on monthly meetings and events, post questions, and visit with other EFMP families. For more information about JBLMEFMPSG send an email to [email protected].

Resources

Companionship

ACS-EFMP partners with the Companion-ship Program to provide recreation and leisure opportunities for individuals with special needs and their friends and fami-lies. The goal is to assist the participants in finding and maintaining strong friendships by providing different activities throughout the community. For more information call 253-798-2997 or email [email protected]. The monthly newsletter is available on their website.

Special Families of Pierce County

Special Families of Pierce County (SFPC) is a support group for families with special needs children in the South Sound region. The next meeting is Monday, February 6. Topic: “Behavioral Engagement: How to Structure Continuity Between Home and School.” Speaker: Julie Schrag, Special Needs Strategist at Autism Pathways.

SFPC has their regular monthly meetings on the first Monday evening of the month, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Cen-ter located in Tacoma at 3005 112th Street East, corner of 112th Street and Waller Road, just off the Portland Avenue Exit from Hwy 512. You can join their monthly email list, look for their group page at http://www.facebook.com/specialfami-liespc or http://specialfamiliesofpierce-county.blogspot.com. Contact Angela Fish at 253-830-4368 or [email protected] for additional information.

Autism Support Group

The JBLM Autism Support Group hosts monthly meetings one Friday evening each month throughout the school year. The next meeting will be held on February 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Family Resource Center,

9th Division and Pendelton, JBLM-Lewis Main. Please contact Cheryl Beene at 253-589-2572/253-961-6069 or email [email protected] with questions regarding autism services throughout the south Puget Sound area.Sibshops

MultiCare Good Samaritan holds programs for typically developing kids and teens that have a brother or sister with a disability. The groups for kids are scheduled on Feb 4, Mar 3, Apr 7, and May 5 and are broken down into ages 5-7 at 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and ages 8 – 11 from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

The group for Teens is held on Thursday evenings 6:30 – 9 p.m. for ages 12 – 17 yrs. These meeting will be held on Feb. 9, March 8, Apr. 12, and May 10. Dinner is provided. For registration and further information, call 253-697-1603 or visit www.siblingsupport.org.

Birth to ThreeEarly Intervention Program

Contact the Lead Agency for your counties for a referral for services. Family Resource Coordination - Pierce County - 253-798-3790South Sound Parent To Parent - Thurston and Mason Counties - 360-352-1126Holly Ridge Center - Kitsap County - 360-373-2536CHAP - King County - 206-284-0331


If your family member has a health condi-tion that necessitates a specialist or spe-cialty clinic, he or she MUST be enrolled in EFMP under medical, DD Form 2792. If your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or 504 plan, they are required to be enrolled in EFMP under education, DD Form 2792-1. Enrollment forms for EFMP are renewed every three years or sooner, if there are significant changes. Disenrollment is not automatic upon expiration; it is required for a change in marital status or a significant improve-ment that no longer warrants enrollment.

Army – Submit your completed enroll-ment forms to the EFMP office at the Madigan Developmental Clinic on the first floor of the Medical Mall. For questions call 253-968-1370. For overseas screening call 253-968-0254.

Air Force - Submit your completed en-rollment forms to the SNIAC office on the second floor at 62nd Medical Clinic. For a PCS screening or for questions call SGT Anderson at 253-982-3350. For Air Force Respite Care, contact Anthony Buggage at Airman & Family Readiness Center at 253-982-2695.

EFMP Family Support ServicesBldg 2140, Waller Hall, Room 400, JBLM-Lewis MainInstallation & local resources & services, Housing & school issues, IEP/504 plans, Respite Care, Systems Navigation, Advo-cacy, Support groups, Monthly newsletter, Disability services, and Special Needs Ac-commodation Process are available for all Army and Air Force EFMP Families.

EFMP Enrollment Process

Growth is important at each stage of development; infants and toddlers are busy learners. ChildReach is a FREE, mobile screening program offered at various sites in the Tacoma/Pierce County area for children birth to 3 yrs. Child Reach provides children with screening for language, motor, learning, hearing, vision, growth and behavior. Children identified with potential developmental concerns are referred for follow-up services. Contact ChildReach at 253-798-3822 to schedule a screening appointment at the following locations:

Feb. 2 – Sumner Family Support Center, SumnerFeb. 7 – Tillicum Community Center, LakewoodFeb. 14 – Eatonville Community Center, EatonvilleFeb. 22 – Portland Ave. Community Center, TacomaFeb. 27 – Grandview Early Learning Center/Puyallup Tribe, TacomaFeb. 29 – Summit Library, Tacoma

CHILD REACH

EFMP staff membersNancy Dozier: 253-967-9705 Carol Watrous: 253-967-3451Jackie Kelly: 253-967-3520 Jaclyn Gilley: 253-967-3553 Terry Giles: 253-966-5393 Cheryl Hoyson: 253-967-5795 Timmy Milligan: 253-967-9097Anthony Buggage: 253-982-2695

EFMP staff members ctd.Terry Giles, EFMP System Navigator, is available at JBLM Airman & Family Readiness Center on McChord Field on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact him at 253-982-8437 or the front desk at 253-982-2695.

EFMP Manager Mary Herrera: 253-967-9704

EFMP News • February 2012 Bldg. 2140, Room 400/253-967-9704/9705 88

Resources

ArmyOne SourceMyarmyonesource.com

Attention Deficit DisorderAddresources.org

CP Networkthecpnetwork.org

COMPANIONSHIPpiercecountywa.org/companionship

Family Support for our Troopsoperationhomefront.net/Washington

Find the Genius in ADDtheadhddoctor.com

Gluten Intolerance Groupgluten.net

Hands On Children’s Museumhocm.org

Hearing, Speech & Deafness Centerhsdc.org

Joint Base Lewis – McChordjblmmwr.mil

Military Homefrontmilitaryhomefront.dod.mil

MilitaryOneSourcemilitaryonesource.com

Military Family Assistance Centerusacares.us

National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

naccrra.org

National Military Family Associationnmfa.org

Official TriWest websitestriwest.com

Pierce County Food Banksefoodnet.org

Puget Sound Educational Servicespsesd.org

South Sound Parent to Parentssp2p.org

Specialized Training Of Military Parentsstompproject.org

Traumatic Brain Injury WAtbiwashington.org

FACEBOOK Addresses:

ACS-EFMPwww.facebook.com/efmpjblm

JBLM EFMP Support Groupwww.facebook.com/Lewis-McChord

EFMPSG

Lewis-McChord Family and MWRwww.facebook.com/Lewis-McChord

Family and MWR

Autism Society of WAAutismsocietyofwa.org

Families for Effective Autism Treatment

Featwa.org

TACA of Western Washington

Talkaboutcuringautism.orgTacanow.org

UW Tacoma Autism Centerhttp://depts.washington.edu/

uwautism/

Autism SpeaksAutismspeaks.org

Special Families ofPierce County

http://specialfamiliesofpiercecounty.blogspot.com

AUTISM WEBSITES

Online tools for military members and their families

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