HENDERSON HALL EFMP S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : EFMP Contacts EFMP Workshops & Support Groups STOMP Information STOMP at Fort Belvoir STOMP at Fort Meade Where in the DMV is EFMP Military Special Needs Families Information Special Needs Trust Workshop at Fort Belvoir 7 Oct EFMP FAQ: EFM does not reside with me? National Preparedness Month Source: Ready Marine Corps Are you prepared in the event of an emergency? Ready Marine Corps is your Marine Corps emergency preparedness program. Emergencies can come from any direction. While we don t like to think about disasters, they happen at Marine Corps installations and surrounding communities worldwide. Marines, Civilian Marines, and families can be affected or know someone who is affected by natural hazards, like typhoons and wildfires; manmade hazards, like train derailments and chemical spills; disease outbreaks, like Ebola and flu; and terrorism. As an important member of the emergency management team, you are the first line of defense in an all hazards event. By staying informed, making a plan, and building a kit, you increase your and your fellow Marines chance of survival, limit damage to property, and save time when seconds matter the most. Visit www.ready.marines.mil for more information. PEATC Parent & Youth Summit 19 Sept Medical Utility Waiver Program EFMP Newsletters JBM-HH Fall Family Fun Fest 26 Sept Individual Family Support Program Tricare ECHO Workshop Fort Meade 18 Sept Henderson Hall Happenings: Interviewing 101, Emergency Preparedness, and Principles for Healthy Relationships & Marriage HENDERSON HALL EFMP TEAM 1555 Southgate Road, Building 12, Arlington, VA 22214-5000 Program Manager: 703-693-6368 Office hours: Monday Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Email: efmphh@usmc-mccs.org Website: mccshh.com/efmp.html Administrative Specialist: 703-693-7195 Family Case Workers: 703-693-6510 703-693-4172 Training, Education, & Outreach Specialist: 703-693-5353
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 2 EFMP WORKSHOPS & SUPPORT GROUPS For event registration: efmphh@usmc-mccs.org or 703-693-5353 Please register at least 1 day prior to event. Schedule subject to change. DATE TIME TOPIC PLACE Sep 17 1100-1300 Early Intervention Overview Sep 22 1100-1300 Meet & Greet Henderson Hall, Bldg. 12, Conference Rm. 1555 Southgate Rd, Arlington, VA Indian Head USO 14 Strauss Ave, Indian Head, MD Sep 24 1800-2000 EFMP Couples Support Group Henderson Hall, Bldg. 21 1555 Southgate Rd, Arlington, VA Oct 15 1100-1300 Special Education Overview Oct 22 1200-1300 Respite Care Oct 29 1800-2000 EFMP Couples Support Henderson Hall, Bldg. 12, Conference Rm. 1555 Southgate Rd, Arlington, VA Henderson Hall, Bldg. 12, Conference Rm. 1555 Southgate Rd, Arlington, VA Henderson Hall, Bldg. 21 1555 Southgate Rd, Arlington, VA EFMP Family Ball Join us for a night of Marine Corps tradition and family fun on Saturday, 21 November from 1700-2000 at the Fort Belvoir USO. There will be food, dancing, and fun. Bring the whole family. Dress up. Invitations will be sent soon... The EFMP wishes to make our events accessible to persons of all abilities. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need reasonable accommodations in order to fully participate in an event. For more information about EFMP events see the EVENTS section of our webpage: mccshh.com/efmp.html or email us at efmphh@usmc-mccs.org
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 3 adapted by: Davina Hardaway Did you know that military families with special needs face a higher likelihood of being in crisis situations with fewer supports to help alleviate stressors? Not only do we know our military families face unique challenges, but our special needs families experience difficulty navigating complex educational and medical systems. The Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP), is an organization dedicated solely to address the needs of military families who have family members with special medical or educational needs. STOMP will be in your area for a two day workshop in the areas of Parent Rights and Responsibilities with regard to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), IEPs, 504, TRICARE, Record Keeping and Home files, Effective Communication, Networking, Wills and Guardianships, Supplemental Security Income, and Advocacy. Special emphasis is placed on creating effective partnerships between families and the professionals who support them. We have a special understanding of the challenges families face when they have a family member with disabilities or special needs, and they have to PCS from place to place or face deployments, stated Heather Hebdon, the Director for STOMP. She went on to comment Our staff members have family members with disabilities, and we have all dealt with the challenges and joys that come with military life. STOMP is a parent-directed program that exists to empower military parents, individuals with disabilities, and service providers with knowledge, skills, and resources so that they might access services to create a collaborative environment for family and professional partnerships without regard to geographic location. Established in 1985, STOMP has been recognized as the premier resource for families within the military who have children, youth, and adult family members with disabilities and other special education/medical issues. For more information about STOMP or to talk with one of their staff members, call 1-800-5-PARENT or visit their website at www.wapave.org/stomp. STOMP was established to assist military families who have children with special education or health needs. Parents, professionals and educators, this is a must attend event with two days full of valuable information, resources, and connections. To register for this free workshop or for more information, please see the flyers on the next two pages (4 & 5). See you there!
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 6 WHERE in the DMV (DC, MD, VA) is EFMP? We hope to see you at the locations below! Saturday, 19 Sept Andrews Air Show Thursday, 4 Oct 4th CEB Expo Thursday, 3 Sept Fort Meade Coffee Wednesday, 9 Sept MFP Pentagon Outreach Wednesday, 23 Sept Joint Services EFMP Pentagon Outreach Tuesday, 22 Sept CBIRF Meet & Greet Military Special Needs Families Information Jeremy Hilton is a Navy veteran, Air Force spouse, and 2012 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. He resigned his commission from the Navy in 2003 after eight years of service to care for his daughter, who was born with significant medical issues. After her birth, Jeremy assumed a leadership role advocating for families affected by chronic medical conditions and disabilities. Jeremy would like to share information about special needs for military families through a dropbox. This dropbox is the only place where this information is easily accessible in one place, helping you understand the full scope of the issues so you can help military families with special needs individuals. If you have the time to review this material, you will see that we are making very slow progress.
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 7 EFMP FAQ of the Month Question: If my EFM does not reside with me (the servicemember), can I disenroll from the Exceptional Family Member Program? Answer: If you are divorced and your ex-spouse has PRIMARY PHYSICAL custody, you can submit for disenrollment with: submission of custodial part of divorce decree local DEERS office notified of divorce and primary address for child changed. DEERS must reflect these changes before EFMP disenrollment action can be initiated If the child is in college, they will still remain enrolled even though they may have a different address while attending college. If enrollment impacts assignment determinations, Marines are encouraged to contact HQMC EFMP to discuss potential options.
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 9 Medical Utility Waiver Program (by: Andranita Dogan) Military housing is a great benefit to the families who live there. It helps nurture a sense of community by offering families opportunities to get out and meet their neighbors through events, like block parties and concerts. Another benefit of living on base is the lack of utility bills that the servicemember has to pay. As long as you do not go over the baseline usage for the utilities, like electricity and gas, there is no out-of-pocket expense. This is difficult to maintain for military families with a family member on a ventilator or other high-voltage machines. Instead of being a benefit to living on base, it is now a drain on the pocket book, unless you make your family s special needs known to your housing office and fill out a special form. Some installations offer a Medical Utility Waiver Program that will take into account the medical need for the energy draining, yet lifesaving machine that your family member needs. If you are seeing a significantly higher than baseline electricity and/or gas bill from your utility company, and you believe it is due to your medically-necessary equipment, then you will want to contact your local housing office and ask them about the Medical Utility Waiver Program. EFMP Newsletters Our EFMP newsletters offers information and resources to assist you with special education, healthcare, financial, transition, recreation, networking, and future planning needs. If you would like to review previous editions of the Henderson Hall Exceptional Family Member Program monthly newsletter, please visit our website at mccshh.com/efmpnewsletters.html. If you have any suggestions for future editions, please let us know.
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 11 Individual & Family Support Program (source: VA Dept of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services) The Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) is designed to assist individuals on the waiting list for the intellectual disability (ID) or developmental disability (DD) Medicaid waivers to access short-term resources, supports, and services that will help them remain in their own community homes. The settlement agreement between the Commonwealth and the U.S. Department of Justice on Virginia s Intellectual and Developmental Disability System requires the IFSP to run until 2021. Announcements: The Individual and Family Support Program has announced the Funding Period for FY 2016. $3,000,000 has been provided by the General Assembly for this funding period. There is only ONE funding period for FY2016; all funds will be distributed during this round. To assist more individuals, the maximum amount of funds per person will be $1000 for this entire year. Beginning Date: Applications for Funding Period FY2016 must be postmarked on or after September 15, 2015. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. To be eligible for this program, an individual must be on either the ID Urgent or Non-Urgent Waiver Wait Lists or the DD Waiver Wait List. All families and consumers interested in applying for this round of funding should print off the application and directions from this site, or seek assistance from your Support Coordinator or Case Manager. The IFSP program will not be mailing out applications. Do not use an application from any previous funding periods, it will not be accepted. The application and directions are available in both English and Spanish. If you need help completing the application in another language, please call 804-225- 3810 or 804-663-7277. PLEASE READ THE APPLICATION AND DIRECTIONS THOROUGHLY. Also, please see IFSP Covered Services and Support and Services and Items NOT funded through the IFSP. Applications postmarked BEFORE September 15 will not be eligible for funding. Applications faxed to the IFSP office or dropped off at the DBHDS building also will NOT be accepted or eligible for funding. If individuals/families have not turned in all receipts from any previous IFSP Funding Period, they will NOT be eligible for funding. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS, the Individual and Family Support Program CANNOT ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR AP- PLICATION. Individuals and families may contact the IFSP program regarding the status of applications beginning December 15, 2015. Visit the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for more information at www.dbhds.virginia.gov.
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 P A G E 13 Henderson Hall Happenings What are other Henderson Hall Marine & Family Programs up to? Events are free and open to DoD ID card holders. Please pre-register. Interviewing 101: The Secret to Becoming the Candidate Thursday, September 3, 2015 0900 1100 Henderson Hall, Bldg. 29, Room 104 Hosted by Career Resource Management Center This workshop is designed to assist individuals in understanding the interview process. Participants learn how to communicate effectively and confidently during a job interview. Special emphasis will focus on how to successfully respond to challenging interview questions and situations. Learn techniques that will help you feel prepared and confident to meet your future employer. Please call 703-614-6828 to register. Emergency Preparedness Tuesday, September 15, 2015 0900 1100 Henderson Hall, Bldg. 29, Room 103 Hosted by Marine Corps Family Team Building Be informed and prepared in the event of an emergency. Learn what to do in the event of a natural disaster, tips for creating a family emergency plan, and how to build an emergency kit. If you have a family member with special needs, come and learn about the resources available and what you can do to prepare. Please register by Sept 11 by calling 703-693-8906. Principles for Healthy Relationships and Marriage Tuesday, September 29, 2015 1130 1230 Henderson Hall, Bldg. 12, Conference Room Hosted by Military and Family Life Counselor Program Focus is on topics such as the origins of personal attitudes towards relationships, the characteristics of a healthy relationship, stages of marriage and tools for building a healthy relationship. Register by calling 571-581-8016 or 703-414-9885 For other Marine and Family Programs workshops for September, please visit our website at mccshh.com. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Defense, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, gift suggestions, or organizations imply endorsement by the USMC. Let us know how we re doing!