Special Education/EIS

All states and territories must provide early intervention services to children who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays, from birth to their third birthday.

Most CONUS locations, local school districts or health departments provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C because that is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention. The Education Directory for Children with Special Needs has a list of resources specific to each state to help you determine who you should contact. Your installation EFMP Family Support provider can also answer your questions.

If you are moving OCONUS or to a CONUS location with a DODEA school (and you live on installation), your child will receive EIS through the Defense Department’s Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, or EDIS, program.

When moving, you should hand carry copies of your child's most current individual family service plan, or IFSP, and the most current evaluation reports to your new home to ensure they are not lost.

All states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 through 21.

When a child transfers to a different district in the same state, the new school must provide a free, appropriate public education, including comparable services, until the previously held IEP is adopted or a new one is developed and implemented. When a child transfers to another state, the receiving school must provide comparable services until an IEP review can determine if a new evaluation or IEP is appropriate.

If you are moving and your child receives special education and related services, you should hand carry all necessary school and medical documents, including the most current IEP and current evaluation reports. Hand carrying these documents ensures that they are not lost and allows the new school to begin the process as soon as you arrive.

• Education Directory for Children with Special Needs
• EFMP & Me digital tool
• Individualized Education Program & Moving
• Special Needs Parent Toolkit
• Special Needs Resources
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos

The Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program serves military families with special needs. The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for sponsors with qualifying family members. Enrollment in the EFMP ensures maximum provision of services to the family throughout the sponsor’s career.

The EFMP includes identification of the family member's special needs and enrollment in the program, assignment coordination and family support. The Program assists Sailors during the assignment process by addressing the special needs of their exceptional family members and ensuring they are assigned to areas where they can access necessary resources.

Special needs include special medical, dental, mental health, developmental or educational requirements, the requirement for adaptive equipment assistive technology devices and services and/or wheelchair accessibility.  

The Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System application provides electronic EFMP enrollment and enrollment update capability, allows the service member to track the status of enrollment and provides a means to record and maintain EFM information, referrals and individualized service plans. A Family Member’s User Guide is available under the help tab. 

The Fleet and Family Support Program is the Information and Referral conduit for questions regarding EFM resources in the local community.

EFMP Liaisons located at Fleet and Family Support Centers:

• Provide information, referral and system navigation to special needs families.
• Link families with available military, national and local community resources.
• Provide non-medical case management.
• Develop and maintain Individual Service Plans.
• Partner with the MTF Coordinators to provide information, education and marketing.

The Military Treatment Facility conducts overseas and suitability screening, and assists with EFMP enrollment.

EFMP Coordinators located at Military Treatment Facilities:

• Oversee the identification and enrollment of eligible service members and their families.
• Provide enrollment forms, offer help in the preparation of the forms, review completed forms for accuracy, and forward the enrollment package to the Central Screening Committee.
• At overseas MTFs, coordinate with the DoDDs and the local Educational and Developmental Intervention Services program.
• Partner with the FFSC EFMP Liaisons to provide EFM Program information, education and marketing.

EFMP enrollment is mandatory and required immediately upon identification of a special need.

DD Form 2792, Exceptional Family Member Medical and Educational Summary and DD Form 2792-1, Exceptional Family Member Special Education / Early Intervention Summary are used for enrollment.

NOTE: DoD civilian employees and their family members do not enroll in the EFMP.

Exceptional Family Member Program Respite Care is specifically designed for Navy families who have children identified as Exceptional Family Members, category IV or V. This includes exceptional family members whose medical condition requires assignment near major medical facilities in the continental United States, or whose needs are complex and specialized requiring continuity of care.

 The Fleet and Family Support Program is the Information and Referral conduit for questions regarding EFM resources in the local community.

EFMP Liaisons located at Fleet and Family Support Centers:

• Provide information, referral and system navigation to special needs families.
• Link families with available military, national and local community resources.
• Provide non-medical case management.
• Develop and maintain Individual Service Plans.
• Partner with the MTF Coordinators to provide information, education and marketing. 

The Military Treatment Facility conducts overseas and suitability screening, and assists with EFMP enrollment.

EFMP Coordinators located at Military Treatment Facilities:

• Oversee the identification and enrollment of eligible service members and their families.
• Provide enrollment forms, offer help in the preparation of the forms, review completed forms for accuracy, and forward the enrollment package to the Central Screening Committee.
• At overseas MTFs, coordinate with the DODDs and the local Educational and Developmental Intervention Services program.
• Partner with the FFSC EFMP Liaisons to provide EFM Program information, education and marketing.