PCS Success 2

Calendar of Events 3

Inside this issue:

Relocating to a new community can be a fun and ad-

venturous time for you and your family. There are new

places to explore and new friends to be made. With the

military, you may be moving every few years. This can be

at times challenging on your special needs family member.

Whether they are experiencing their first or their fifth

move. Please remember that even though you have a lot of

other things on your mind during this period, a little time

for you during this process can make a difference in how

well you and your family member cope with the move and

adjust to your new home. This is also the right time to start sharing with your family ex-

pectations and timelines, in order to minimize moving anxiety and to open the lines of

communication associated with the upcoming move.

Whether it's your first PCS or you're a veteran at it, the Exceptional Family

Member Program is here to help. Our office can provide you with transitional knowledge,

tools and tips on PCS’ing with special needs. Our staff can provide the most current and

up to date information on resources inside Navy and Marine Corps installations, and can

help make your move to or from Okinawa as ‘Smooth' as

possible. For those who are just arriving in Okinawa, wel-

come to a whole new way of life. I hope you will embrace

the island and all that it has to offer. Don't be afraid to

ask for support or directions. Explore, connect, and enjoy.

For those about to leave the island, savor your final days

and begin to prepare yourself for a return to your home

country with a new set of eyes.

(continued on page 2)

Page 2 Exceptional News You Can Use!

For those who are staying on the is-

land during this PCS season, reflect

back on your own experience and reach

out with a helping hand. Watch out

for those new drivers (you know the

ones who stray to the right and turn

on their windshield wipers when they

meant to flip the turn signal). Take a

walk in your neighborhood and you

might find some new goodies on the

curb. And most importantly inhale that

island air and enjoy the small things

that make Okinawa so special.

For tools and tips on PCS’ing

with your exceptional family mem-

ber, EFMP is offering a workshop

called; EFMP PCS Success. Join us

as we provide tips on how to suc-

cessfully transition with your Ex-

ceptional Family Member. Join us

on May 8 from 1130am-100pm at

the Camp Foster Education Center

as our panel of subject matter

experts will be discussing the following topics:

Organizational tips for preparing your special needs travel binder.

Creative travel ideas for traveling with children with special needs

Information on finding and tapping in to local community resources such as TRI-

CARE ECHO services and EFMP transitional supports.

Answers to your educational related questions such as transferring students on

IEP’s and 504’s out of DoDDS schools.

To register please give us a call at 645-9237 or e-mail

efmp@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org

May 2014 Page 3

In the month of May, The Marine Corps Exceptional Family Member Pro-

gram (EFMP) is hosting a series of events throughout the month. Join the EFMP

office for the following events:

EFMP Empower Hour: PCS Success. May 8th from 1130am-100pm at the Camp

Foster Education Center Room #13.

Proactive Advocates Sharing and Supporting P.A.S.S. Monthly support group

May 29th from 5pm-6pm at Bob Hope Elementary School Cafeteria, Kadena

Air Base.

Autism Awareness 5k (Autism Awareness Color Me Fun Run/Walk). May 31st

show time at 730am run time starts at 805am at The Gunner’s Gym, Camp

Foster.

For more information or to register for any of our events please give us a call

at 645-9237 or e-mail efmp@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

Friendly Reminders

PCS Transition Checklist: If you are getting ready to PCS soon, please get with your EFMP Case-

worker to complete a PCS Transition Checklist. Your transition checklist will help the gaining installa-

tion assess and address issues that might come up during your transition. Also, once you arrive at

your new duty station, please remember to check in with your new Case Worker .

EFMP Enrollment : you must update your enrollment paperwork every three years. However, if you

have any changes in your medical or educational status, please take a moment to contact your

EFMP Caseworker to update your paperwork. This includes an update to an existing Individual Edu-

cation Program (IEP), Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) or a 504 Plan. Please continue to help us

keep your EFMP case current.

Appointments: If you are planning to visit our Camp Courtney and Camp Kinser offices, please call

ahead or make an appointment so we can better serve you.

EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM

Our Locations:

Main Office Camp Kinser Office

Bldg 495 on Camp Foster Bldg 1316 CELL: 098-970-9237 Cell: 098-959-3516

DSN: 645-9237 DSN: 637-3516

Camp Courtney Office

Marine and Family Programs Resource Center Building 4425

CELL: 098-954-9794

EFMP Lending Library & Resources

Playing by the Rules shows how siblings of

children with autism bridge the gap of under-

standing between their brothers or sisters

and other people.

With colorful, cartoon-like illustrations,

Playing by the Rules is a funny, realistic

story of having to tolerate interruptions and

less attention because of a sibling's special

needs. But as with all siblings, Josh and Jody's relation-

ship is also positive and loving--most of the time

Did you know EFMP has a Lending Library

with great resource books available for

you to check out?

We currently have books on

ADHD, Allergies, Autism, Diabetes, Par-

enting issues, Special ED and IEPs, vari-

ous mental health issues and so much

more! We will be highlighting a new book

in this section with each edition of the

newsletter. Additionally, if you have topics you would

like to see included in our Lending Library, please let

us know.

Call us at 645-9237 or email us at:

EFMP@OKINAWA.USMC-MCCS.ORG