efmp news/sept. 2012

EFMP News • September 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 September 2012

Back To SchoolPage 4

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Page 3

Online ResourcesPage 8

EFMP Playgroup

Page 5Camp Prime Time


In this issue:

EFMP News Editor/Graphic Design:

Johanna [email protected]

Army Community Service (ACS)Director: Alecia R. Grady

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

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

EFMP Program Manager: Mary Herrera253-967-9704

EFMP Staff Members:

EFMP Coffee Group, pg. 2

Back To School, pg. 4

JBLM EFMP, pg. 6

Online Resources, pg. 8

JBLM life...

Nancy Dozier: 253-967-9705Carol Watrous: 253-967-3451Jackie Kelley: 253-967-3520Jaclyn Gilley: 253-967-3553Terry Giles: 253-966-5393Cheryl Hoyson: 253-967-5795Timmy Milligan: 253-967-9097Anthony 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.

EFMP Coffee GroupSeptember 11; 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.

EFMP EventsSpecial Families of Pierce CountyParkland/Spanaway GroupSeptember 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., “The Power of Play” Debbie Kray, Education & Exhibits Director, Children’s Museum of Tacoma. See page 6 for directions and more information.

Autism Coalition MeetingSeptember 12, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Madigan Medical Mall, Developmental Pediatrics Conference Room.

HUB-High FunctioningAutism Support GroupSeptember 12, 6 - 8 p.m. Get in on the ground floor of this New Support Group. The meeting will be at PAVE, 6316 South 12th Street, Tacoma, on the Tacoma Com-munity College campus. Call 253-565-2266 for additional information.

Special Families of Pierce CountyDowntown Tacoma GroupSeptember 13, 6 - 8 p.m.; “Play With a Purpose” Joli LaBissoniere, OTR/L, Children’s Therapy Center. See page 6 for directions and additional information.


September EventsEFMP Family Friendly MovieSeptember 15, noon - 2 p.m. at the McChord Theater. FREE movie. Sensory-controlled environment. Perfect for special needs and young viewers. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information contact 253-982-2695.

EFMP PlaygroupSeptember 26; 10 - 11 a.m. Raindrops & Rainbows, Bldg. 841 American Lake Ave. JBLM - Lewis North. Are you a mom or dad who has a young child who is enrolled in EFMP? 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. Call 253-967-3553 for more information. No RSVP is required.

EFMP News is an authorized unofficial community information source published for members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord EFMP community. There is no U.S. government endorsement of any commercial sponsor. Edito-rial content is provided by Exceptional Family Member Program, Army Community Service, and Family & Morale Welfare and Recreation of-fices. Submissions are welcome, but will be ed-ited 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 pro-tection and grammar.

Although the information in the issue is cur-rent at time of publication, activities and events are subject to change. Please contact the activ-ity for confirmation.


Back To

As the casualness of summer dwindles away and the school year approaches, parents and students with special needs may experience a variety of emotions (both positive and negative) in anticipation of the upcoming school year. This transition can be challenging; however, there are things that you can do with your student that can assist with making this significant change in routine go smoothly. Below are some strategies that you may find useful in easing your child back into school.Children with special needs may experience difficulty dealing with transitions. Change can be scary but change can also be exciting; it all depends on how you and your child conceptualize the upcoming transition and how you deal with the varying emotions. Creating routines similar to those your child will have during the school year can be very useful. Establishing a consistent sleep routine and devel-oping structure throughout the day can help prepare your child (and you) for school. You can also plan a visit with your child’s teachers prior to the first day of school so that your child is not stepping into an unfamiliar environment with the chaos of excited kids and new routines and expectations. Allowing your child to actively participate in the shopping for school supplies and clothes can promote posi-tive anticipation. Reviewing the materials and skills your child acquired the previous year will decrease the likelihood of “summer slide”. It is also helpful to reach out to the school staff who will be working closely with your child. Creating an alliance with the educational team promotes collaboration, coordination, and mutual respect thereby enhancing communication between you and the school. Preparing for the upcoming school year can help ease any fear or anxiety associated with this transition ensuring a successful start this fall!

by Jaclyn Gilley, EFMP System Navigator


Camp Prime Time 2012

Nancy & Shirley with Quilt

The Humphrey Family

The Smith FamilyThe De Jesus Family

Camp Prime Time is a non-profit organiza-tion based in Yakima. The camp is nestled in the Wenatchee National Forest by Clear Lake, just east of White Pass. It was estab-lished to provide a recreational facility in a wilderness setting for families who have a child with special needs. It is offered free of charge. Families stay in cabins, share restroom facilities, and eat hearty meals prepared by wonderful volunteers. Sixty-eight EFMP Family members representing seventeen military Families attended Camp Prime Time July 20 - 22.

This year’s special craft project was a quilt. Campers decorated squares that included photos of each Family. The finished prod-uct was presented to Shirley Thietje, Camp Prime Time Manager, as a tangible “thank you” from our JBLM Families for ten years of amazing camp experiences.

The most popular event was a 24 hour scavenger hunt designed to enhance team work among Family members. In addition to fishing, boat rides, games, hiking, horse-back riding, and a campfire sing-a-long with s’mores, we also celebrated those with summer birthdays.

For the sixth consecutive year, our volun-teer team was staff and family members from Equity Residential/Lewis-McChord Communities. We wish to send a big thank you to Marty and Eric Alflen, Kim Flesh-mand, Heather Hernanadez, Debbie and Peter Calkins, and Julie, Jim, and Jessica Jackson. We would also like to send special thanks to our planning team including Candace Mefford, David and Michele Gross, Mindy and Tyler Kerbs, and Nancy Dozier. Kudos to the EFMP Support Group and Starlight Starbright Foundation for prize donations.

The Boedeker Family


CompanionshipACS-EFMP partners with the Companionship Program to provide recreation and leisure opportunities for individuals with special needs and their friends and families. 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 e-mail: [email protected]. The monthly newsletter is avail-able on their website.

Resources

Special Families of Pierce CountySpecial Families of Pierce County (SFPC) is a support group for families with special needs children in the South Sound region. The Parkland/Spanaway Group will meet on Monday, September 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center, located at 3005 112th Street East & Waller Road East in Tacoma. No childcare is provided, no RSVP is required.

NEW! Downtown Tacoma Group will meet on September 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, 1501 Pacific Avenue, on the corner of 15th and Pacific Av-enue. Street parking is free after 6 p.m. Childcare is limited and only available by RSVP. E-mail to request an RSVP form. To join the e-mail list, visit the group page at http://www.facebook.com/specialfamiliespc. For further information call 253-830-4368 or e-mail either [email protected] or [email protected].

JBLM EFMP Support Group JBLM EFMPSG is a non-profit, private organization that offers events, meetings and guest speakers. Events will alternate between JBLM-McChord Field, JBLM-Lewis Main and JBLM-Lewis North. Visit: www.face-book.com/JBLMEFMPSG for up to date information on monthly workshops, events, to post questions, and communicate with other EFMP families. For more information about JBLM EFMPSG e-mail [email protected] or call 253-278-9749.


If your family member has a health condition that necessitates a specialist or specialty 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 improvement that no longer warrants enrollment. Army – Submit your completed enrollment forms to the EFMP office. Their location is at the Madigan Nursing Tower, on the first floor, left side, just past the chapel, room 1-28-17. For questions call 253-968-1370. For overseas screening call 253-968-0254.

Air Force - Submit your completed enrollment forms to the SNIAC office on the second floor at 62nd Medical Clinic. For a PCS screening or for questions call SGT Ander-son at 253-982-3350. For Air Force Respite Care, contact the 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, Advocacy, Support groups, Monthly newsletter, Disability services, and Special Needs Accommodation Process are available for all Army and Air Force EFMP Families.

EFMP Enrollment Process

ARE YOU A FAN YET?

facebook.com/efmpjblm

• Real-time dialogue

• Do you have questions for us or for EFMP community members?

• Help generate new ideas

• Do you have a suggestion or a new resource you would like to share?

Birth To Three Early Intervention Programs

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


Resources

TACA of Western Washington

Talkaboutcuringautism.orgTacanow.org

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

uwautism/

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

Families for Effective Autism Treatment

Featwa.org

Autism SpeaksAutismspeaks.org

Caffeinated Autism MomCaffeinatedautismmom.com

Mission SpectrumMissionSpectrum.com

Autism Society of WAAutismsocietyofwa.org

Soldiers and Families forAutism Awareness

www.facebook.com/groups/soldiersandfamiliesforautism

awarenessSpecial Families of

Pierce Countyspecial-families.org

AUTISM WEBSITES

for military members and their families

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

JBLM Family and MWRwww.facebook.com/JBLMFamilyMWR

Online tools SER

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