EFMP News/March 2016

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

EFMP News

Exceptional Family Member Program

March 2016

Summer Camp Registration Pages 4-5

Cornell EFMP Survey Page 10

Upcoming Events

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Pages 2-3

2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400

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In this issue: Upcoming Events, pg. 2-3 Summer Camp Registration, pg. 4-5 Tricare Mental Health Policy, pg. 6 Birth-to-Three Services, pg. 7 Community Support Groups, pg. 7 EFMP Enrollment Process, pg. 7 Resources, pg. 8-9 Cornell University Survey, pg. 10

Armed Forces Community Service (AFCS) Director: Alecia R. Grady

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

2140 Liggett Ave., Waller Hall, Rm. 400 JBLM-Lewis Main usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dfmwr-acsexceptional-family-member@mail.mil

EFMP Program Manager: Mary Herrera 253-967-9704 EFMP Staff Members:

Nancy Dozier: Carol Watrous: Cheryl Hoyson: Megan O’Day: Lynn Shick: Anthony Buggage:

253-967-3464 253-967-9705 253-967-5795 253-967-9097 253-967-3451 253-982-2695

The EFMP office has an open-door policy regarding assistance to our Families. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about available services, concerns, or if you need resources or advocacy at Joint Base Lewis-McChord or in the civilian community.

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EFMP News • March 2016

March

JBLM EFMP Family Friendly Movie

Mar. 19, 12 - 2:00 p.m., “Open Season, Scared Silly” at McChord Theater. FREE. Sensory controlled environment.

Perfect for special needs and young viewers. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No food or drink are allowed in the theater. For more information contact 253-982-2695.

Easter Dash at Cowan Stadium: FREE. Egg hunt hosted by BOSS

Sunday, Mar. 27; special needs with parents 12 p.m., 3 years & younger 1 p.m., ages 4-7 2 p.m., ages 8-12 3 p.m. All kids receive a goody bag no matter how many eggs they collect.

Pierce County Resource Fair

Tue., Mar. 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tacoma Community College, 6501 South 19th St. Bldg. 11 in Tacoma (over 40 participating organizations with special

needs information). Contact Susan Jackson (253-565-2266) from PAVE, or Tami McGrath (253-564-0707) PC2 LINKS Program Coordinator for more information.

Play to Learn (Free)

Collaborative playgroups for family and children under 6 on Wednesdays. Two locations: Escape Zone (McChord Field) 10-1130 a.m. and Raindrops & Rainbows (Lewis North) 1:30-3 p.m.

April SKIES Registration

Visit Parent Central Services, Lewis Main and McChord Field to register for April SKIES classes. Registration for classes is the 1st through 4th Friday of the previous month. For a description of classes or to register your child, go to JBLMmwr.com and click on the yellow WebTrac button.

Special Olympics Swimming and Track & Field, Ages 8-18

Sign-ups are available during Mar. For information, contact Youth Sports 253-967-2405 or visit Bldg. 2295 S. 12th St. Lewis Main. Swimming starts in Mar. and is now partnering with Clover Park Special Olympics.

Events..

Hands-On Children’s Museum

Located in Olympia, has free admittance Friday, Mar. 4 and other activities throughout the month. Call 360-956-0818 or access www.hocm.org for details.

sensory-friendly parent-&-me music Mondays 10–10:30 a.m.

Hillside SKIESUnlimited 6398 Garcia Blvd, Lewis Main ages 6 months to 6 years Nurturing bonding experience with parents Motivating & interactive class Through active music-making, children will learn and enhance developmental skills including: • Practicing turn taking.

• Increasing social interactions.

• Developing attention skills.

• Improving gross/fine motor skills.

This class is led by a music therapist with extensive experiences working with children with special needs and is designed for young children with special needs and their parents. However, children with all abilities are welcome.

Register at JBLMcyssRegistration.com.

For details, call SKIESUnlimited at 253-966-3539.

Class days and times are subject to change.

JBLMmwr.com fb.com/JBLMcyss @JBLMskies

Penn State Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) TeleConsult Program

A consulting team of mental health and educational professionals and researchers provides free information to anyone who has questions about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), behavior intervention, and how to advocate for a child who is

on the autism spectrum. Visit teleconsult.militaryfamilies. psu.edu to learn more about this program.

Metro Parks of Tacoma, Specialized Recreation

offers social groups, arts and crafts, bowling, dancing, interactive games, Special Olympics sports, week-end adventures, and much more.

Call 253-404-3950 or visit www. metroparkstacoma.org/ for more information.

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. Editorial content is provided

by Exceptional Family Member Program, Armed Forces 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: Mary.K.Herrera.civ@mail.mil

Policy:

MAMC EFMP Office Closed Feb. 29 through Mar. 4

The MAMC EFMP office will be closed Monday, Feb. 29 through Friday, Mar. 4, 2016 for the installation of new office furniture. As a safety precaution, the office will be closed to all patient/client traffic throughout the installation period. Minimal manning will be available to answer phones with limited access to EFMP summaries and other EFMP operations. The office will return to normal business hours on Monday, March 7, 2016. The contact phone number to call during the office closure period is 253968-1370. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We encourage letters to the editor, but they must be signed. We will consider withholding the name of the author upon request.

Letters regarding 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.

Join us on FACEBOOK! Connect with other EFMP News readers on Facebook and get regular updates on our program.

www.facebook.com/efmpjblm 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400

253-967-9704/9705

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Summer Camp

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EFMP News • March 2016

p Registration

Since summer camps fill up early, now is the time to start inquiring with agencies and registering for programs you are interested in.

Summer Camp Opportunities: JBLM Child Youth & School Services, http://jblmmwr.com/cyss_ parent_central.html Weekly summer camps are available for those who have graduated kindergarten on up. Fees are subsidized based on household income with further discounts for multiple children. Call 253-966-2977 to be placed on the wait list. Then go to https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/ webtrac103/wbwsc/lewiscyms.wsc/ wbsplash.html?wbp=1# and click tab right “forms�. A Special Needs Accommodation Process (SNAP) may be required. Registration must be complete prior to enrollment.

Summer Camps and Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs Washington State Edition, www.cshcn.org/resources-contacts/ summer-camp-directory This is a searchable website that becomes available during the first week of March and may include additional camps that were submitted after the deadline for the printed directory.

2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400

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Autism 200 Series

A series of 90 minute classes for parents and caregivers of children with autism is offered through Seattle Children’s. They are held the third Thursday of each month at Seattle Children’s Hospital from 7-8:30 p.m. in Wright Auditorium.

They are also available through

the Seattle Children’s video and teleconferencing outreach program for viewing at various locations throughout the region. Classes that have already occurred can be viewed on the following website: http://www.seattlechildrens.org/ classes-community/classes-events/

autism-200-series/ The class for Feb. 18 is “Addressing Challenging Behavior Part 1 of 2: Use of Applied Behavior Analysis to Assess and Treat Disruptive Behavior” with Eric Boelter PhD, BCBA-D as the instructor.

Tricare Mental Health Policy Through the Federal eRulemaking Portal Until Apr. 1, the Pentagon is accepting comments from military families and helping professionals regarding Tricare Mental Health policy through

the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations. gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOD2015-HA-0109-0001 We encourage you to review the proposed policy and provide

comments to include, from your experiences, what has worked/not worked along with your recommendations for improvements.

Brain Research: The Surprising Benefits of ADHD

• Excelling in associative thinking: brainstorming; thinking outside the box; using one’s imagination • Being intuitive to others’ emotions and perceptions; being socially adaptive • Once engaged/interested, can spend hours being hyperfocused and immersed in projects/activities

• Broad focus in seeing patterns, discrepancies, contradictions, mismatches 6

EFMP News • March 2016

• Having the ability to take in information quickly; multitasking; adapting (generally key helpers in emergencies) • Possessing endurance and stamina

The Gut-Brain Connection The gut-brain axis is described as biochemical signaling that takes place between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system. The gut-brain axis is an emerging concept that could be helpful

for developing new therapeutic strategies for complex central nervous system disorders by modifying the microbiome, “aka” gut flora. Science-based homeopathic strategies through diet could help regulate anxiety, mood, stress, cognition, etc.

For more information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/ pubmed/21303428/

http://www.scientificamerican. com/article/mental-health-maydepend-on-creatures-in-the-gut/

Birth To Three Early Intervention Programs

EFMP Enrollment Process

Contact the Lead Agency for your county for a referral for services.

Community Connections Early Intervention Service/Pierce Co.: 253-798-3790

South Sound Parent To Parent/Thurston County: 360-352-1126 Holly Ridge Center/Kitsap and Mason Counties: 360-373-2536 Community Health Access Program (CHAP)/King County: 206-284-0331

Community Support Groups Exceptional Families Network has two support groups and various events and clubs in Olympia and Pierce County. For information or to RSVP contact www.exceptionalfamilies.org/ events.html. Text EFN to 22828 to join mailing list. Events include: SFPS Tacoma for families with special needs, 2nd Thur., 6-8 p.m., Children’s Museum of Tacoma, 1501 Pacific Ave., Tacoma.

SFPS Olympia for families with special needs, 1st Tue., 6-8 p.m., Olympia Timberland Library.

Coffee & Chat, 2nd Mon., 10 a.m.

Family Movie and Game Night, 3rd Fri., 6:30 p.m. Games for everyone, kid-friendly movie, and popcorn by donation.

Curiosity Club with Stacy, 2nd Sat., 1 p.m. Kids (ages 2-8) will make a creation and receive a book of the month.

Park Play Date, 3rd Sat., 10 a.m. Weather permitting, let’s get outside and have some fun! RSVP required.

Getting Loopy Yarn Club, 3rd Sun., 2 p.m. Learn how to knit/ crochet or to improve. Supplies available; all ages welcome.

B.B.C. Sci-Fi Appreciation Club, 3rd Sun., 3 p.m. Bowties, Browncoats & Changelings!

Discuss Doctor Who & all things geektastic.

Parent Advisory Council, 4th Tue., 6:30 p.m. Lend your voice, ideas & input about our nonprofit’s services, events & more.

Words & Whine Book Club, Last Fri., 7 p.m. Discuss our current book selection and chat with other parents.

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, he or she must 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 located in the Madigan Nursing Tower, on the first floor, left side, just past the chapel, room 1-28-17. For questions regarding enrollment or overseas screenings, please call 253-968-0254/1370/4355. This office is closed on Thursdays.

PAVE (Partnerships for Action.

Voices for Empowerment.), PAVE has various support groups meetAir Force — Submit your completed ings and activities throughout the enrollment forms to the SNC office 62nd month (see below). Contact Susan Medical Clinic, first floor of Airman’s Jackson at 253-565-2266 or sjackClinic Bioenvironmental hallway, second/ son@wapave.org for information. third office on left. For a PCS screening or www.wapave.org. for questions call TSGT Michelle Sutton at 253-982-3350. Lois Fisher is the Special CIP, Community Inclusion Program of Pierce County, Three Needs Coordinator at 253-982-5568. Open monthly meetings in various Pierce Monday, Tuesday, Friday 0800-1530; Wednesday 0800-1100. Closed 2nd TuesCounty locations. day 1200 – 1530; Closed on Thursday. For Down Syndrome Moms Night Air Force Respite Care, contact AFCSOut Support Group, 2nd Fri. of McChord at 253-982-2695. the month, 6:30 p.m.

EFMP Family Support Services Pierce County Parent to Parent 2140 Liggett Ave., Waller Hall, Room 400, Spanish Speaking Support JBLM-Lewis Main; Group, 1st Tue. of the month, 6-8 552 Barnes Blvd., AFCS-McChord, JBLMp.m.

McChord Field.

PURPAS, Support group for young adults with high functioning Installation & local resources & services, autism and their families. Meetings Housing & school issues, IEP/504 plans, Advocacy, Support groups, Monthly several times a month. newsletter, Special Needs AccommodaSOS, Siblings Outside the tion Process and Systems Navigation Spectrum, Support group for (case management) are available for all teens who have a brother or sister service members and their families. with Autism, meets monthly.

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ONLINE TOOLS

for military members and their Families

Individuals with Disabilities

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EFMP News • March 2016

Informing Families www.informingfamilies.org Put together by a collaboration from Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, Developmental Disabilities Administration and others.

Includes special needs news, topics about special needs for all ages plus a language selection feature for nonEnglish speakers.

A Common Voice http://acommonvoice.org Parent education classes, support groups, counseling, 24-hour hotline for families with child/youth with behavioral and mental health care needs ADD Resources http://addresources.org ADHD support groups, directory of ADHD-friendly services & resources The Arc Autism Now/Autism Society of Washington (ASW) http://autismnow.org/local/autism-society-of-washington/ Offers news, information and resources regarding autism spectrum. Lists events, support groups and trainings Autism Speaks https://www.autimspeaks.org Funds autism research for causes and prevention, advocates for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families FEAT of Washington www.featwa.org/ Provides support & resources for families with someone on the autism spectrum; includes ABA therapy through Rising Star Academy, financial support through Ben’s Fund, social/recreational programming through Experience Learning Project and guidance and support through Family Services BioRx www.biorxhemophilia.com/company/ Provides supplies and customer service for individuals with bleeding disorders, provides advocacy and education, specialized nursing

Exceptional Families Network www.exceptionalfamilies.org Works with, supports and educates families with children who have special needs; a majority of the children have some form of autism, but all diagnoses/ disabilities are welcome Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC) http://hsdc.org/ Western Washington service hub for clients who are deaf, hard of hearing or have communication disorders; services include preschool, American Sign Language (ASL) classes, audiology services, speech therapy, advocacy, ASL interpreting & an assistive technology store The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America www.gluten.org Includes gluten-free (GF) support groups, finding GF products/restaurants/recipes, monthly newsletter The Cerebral Palsy Network http://thecpnetwork.org/ Cerebral palsy (CP) support network, offers advocacy, mentoring and education about CP Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) www.dsb.wa.gov Job counseling and adaptive skills for individuals who are blind or have low vision, services for children and youth aged birth through high school who are blind or have low vision Washington State Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities www.washington.edu/doit/washingtonstate-resources-parents-children-andyouth-disabilities listing of organizations and resources that are supportive of children and youth with special needs

Resources Wrights Law www.wrightslaw.com Up-to-date information on education and special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities, excellent resource for parents Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE) http://wapave.org/ Support, training, information and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, parents & professionals Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council http://tbiwashington.org/ Offers information and resources related to traumatic brain injury South Sound Parent to Parent http://ssp2p.org/ Birth to Three early intervention service coordination in Thurston, South Mason & Grays Harbor counties, matches parents with volunteer mentors, offers equipment & toy loan program, recreational events, support groups, information & referral Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (PC2) http://pc2online.org/ Parent-driven organization that provides information for families and individuals with developmental disabilities in Pierce County, WA Pierce County Companionship Program http://piercecountywa.org/companionship Through Pierce County Parks and Recreation, a recreation program for individuals with special needs and their families Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (TACID) www.tacid.org Promotes independence of individuals with disabilities through peer support, advocacy and self-sufficiency programs; site posts events and support groups

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCVDDD) www.cdc.gov/ncbddd Provides information on research, prevention & treatment of birth defects and developmental disabilities Other Child Care Aware of America, ARMY Child Care in Your Neighborhood http://usa.childcareaware.org www.ChildCareNet.org/families/ your-search NACCRRA accredited child care that is affordable Puget Sound Educational Service District www.psesd.org One of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts and state-approved private schools in Washington; offers centralized services, pooled resources, links schools with regional, state and national educational resources, builds networks and partnerships among districts and other agencies

Military OneSource www.militaryonesource.mil Answers for military life questions including deployment, spouse employment, counseling, financial, retirement and more TRICARE West Region/United Healthcare www.uhcmilitarywest.com Verify eligibility, find claims status and information, check referral and authorization status, find forms, online enrollment available Madigan Army Medical Center, www.mamc.amedd.army.mil Clinic information, appointments, emergency & urgent care, routine/ wellness/specialty care, patient advocacy

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Resources

EFMP SPOTLIGHT AFCS – Exceptional Family Member Program 2140 Liggett Ave, Waller Hall, Rm 400 Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433-9500 253-967-9704

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To take a brief survey, scan this QR code or visit:

http://bit.ly/JBLM-EFMP https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_063s4lRFiVKOcwR This EFMP customer survey has been approved by the Department of Defense DD-P&R(AR)2534

Facebook.com/EFMPJBLM Facebook.com/JBLMAFCS Facebook.com/JBLMFamilyMWR Facebook.com/JBLMcyss

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