Leaving the Military: Find Civilian Services for Your Child With a Disability

When your service member separates or retires from the military, where do you go to find civilian services for your child with a disability?  Certain military benefits will end and civilian supports and services will need to be put in place. This resource can help you understand which services your child might keep, and what civilian options you can explore.

If you are PCSing to a “forever” home location, this article includes resource finders available across the United States and Territories.

As you read down the columns, you will see references to Parent Centers. Parent Centers are funded by Office of Special Education (OSEP), US Department of Education to support parents of children age birth to 26 who have disabilities.

 In addition to the extensive resources at your state’s Parent Center(s), you can also use resources at the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), a national center serving Parent Centers and families with online information. According to the CPIR:

“There are nearly 100 Parent Training and Information Centers PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) in the US and Territories. These Centers perform a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. Some of the activities include:

  • Working with families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, birth to 26
  • Helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development
  • Partnering with professionals and policy makers to improve outcomes for all children with disabilities” – https://www.parentcenterhub.org/the-parent-center-network/

Quick-find links:

Medicaid

Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
*Because of military family mobility, including when retiring from the military, retaining a place on a HCBS Waiver wait list may be challenging. Some states have made legislative changes to help military families retain earned priority to receive HCBS Waivers (Military State Policy Source status tracker from Military OneSource).  Learn about the military waiver benefit at Military OneSource.

Autism resources by State (Easter Seals)

State Agencies on Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities

Parent Centers

 Early Intervention programs for each State:  ages birth to three, Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)

Family to Family Health Information Centers  –these may be programs in a state’s parent center(s)

Parent2Parent:  direct, one-on-one trained support from other parents in your family’s situation, and support groups. Sometimes located in parent centers.

Children’s Benefits:
Active Duty
or Active Reserve
Keep Benefit?
(retiring after 20 yrs service)
Equivalent Civilian Resources
TRICARE medical coverage (may include case management, mental health, hospice careYes, but there may be extra costsPrivate insurance (useful article at the Military Wallet website
Medicaid
TRICARE for children after age 21, up to age 26 (including college students)YesPrivate insurance (useful article at the Military Wallet website
Medicaid
TRICARE after age 26 through secondary dependencyYesMedicaid
Supplemental Security Income(SSI) -in some states, receiving SSI helps determine Medicaid eligibility
ABA services through Tricare’s Autism Demo ProjectYes, but only if the service member retires, as opposed to leaving the military prior to fulfilling the terms of service for retirement. If the service member leaves without retiring, try the resources in the right-hand column.Medicaid
Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
Autism resource by state (Easter Seals)
State agencies on Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities
Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) provides supplemental support services not available through Tricare’s regular coverage. Some benefits similar to Medicaid HCBS waiversNoMedicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
Respite care through ECHO and other programs


No, but check with the community family center at a local installation to identify any military-family support organizations which may offer funding or locator services.
Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver

Easter Seals

Respite locator:
https://archrespite.org/respitelocator
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Family Support (help with navigating military and some civilian systemsYes, at the discretion of each installation’s EFMP Family Support officeParent Centers
Military child care benefitsNoPrivate: not subsidized but can use the directory: ChildCareAware.org

If a family has income restrictions, many states have subsidized care through Dept. of Health and Human services, or equivalent
School Liaison office for help navigating school systems and services. Helps families use MIC3 (Interstate Compact)Parent Centers
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children (MIC3)Children are covered by the provisions of the Compact for one year after service member retires.
Parent Centers
Free Tutoring from Tutor.comNoCommercial tutoring or through school
Table comparing military benefits for children with disabilities prior to and after a service member’s retirement or separation, with equivalent civilian resources

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory* Department of Defense program that helps military dependents with special needs. The Coast Guard, which operates under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security has a similar program called the Special Needs Program, or SNP.

* EFMP is mandatory, primarily so a family member’s needs may be considered during the duty assignment process. However, some families do not enroll because they believe the program requirements are not worth the benefits to them, or they perceive the program as limiting the service member’s duty assignment options, and thus his or her career.

EFMP Family Support staff, along with an installation’s School Liaison, are the primary points of contact for parent centers for holding installation-based trainings, access to meet with families on installations, and insider information about installation support programs and family engagement.

Continue reading “Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)”

Region A Military Installations and Contacts

The maps help you find military installations in your state, along with contact information for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Family Support or School Liaison Office (SLO) staff in each location. For Coast Guard and National Guard locations, we have contacts for the Special Needs Program (SNP) and the Family Assistance Coordinators, respectively. Contacts who support Recruiter families are also included

Scroll down to find the mini-map for your state. 

  1.  To open the map, click on the open square icon, which is in the upper right corner of each mini-map on this page.
  2. In the open map you can click on a colored icon for contact information, or use the side list. You can also drag the map along on this page by placing the cursor on the map and moving the cursor when it becomes a hand.
  3. For just the list of installations and contacts, click on the list icon at the top left of the mini-map. If it says something like “and 55 more”, click on that phrase to open the entire list.
  4. When the list opens, select the installation or contact you want; information opens in a new box.
  5. The map and list use Google Maps for you to get directions.
screenshot of part of a map illustrating the text directions
Example mini-map

The map icons represent  military locations and the yellow stars are Parent Centers. The key above the maps shows how the icons are color coded by branch. Air Force is dark blue, Army is green, Marine Corps is red, Coast Guard is light blue and the Navy is battleship gray.

Map Key-dark blue is Air Force, green is Army, light blue is Coast Guard, Red is Marine Corps, gray is Navy
Map Icon Key

Download map information as a Word docx.:

Connecticut      Delaware      District of Columbia     Maine     Maryland     Massachusetts     New Hampshire

New Jersey     New York     Pennsylvania     Puerto Rico      Rhode Island     US Virgin Islands      Vermont  

Region C Military Installations and Contacts

The maps help you find military installations in your state, along with contact information for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Family Support or School Liaison Office (SLO) staff in each location. For Coast Guard and National Guard locations, we have contacts for the Special Needs Program (SNP) and the Family Assistance Coordinators, respectively. Contacts who support Recruiter families are also included.

Scroll down to find the mini-map for your state. 

  1.  To open the map, click on the open square icon, which is in the upper right corner of each mini-map on this page.
  2. In the open map you can click on a colored icon for contact information, or use the side list. You can also drag the map along on this page by placing the cursor on the map and moving the cursor when it becomes a hand.
  3. For just the list of installations and contacts, click on the list icon at the top left of the mini-map. If it says something like “and 55 more”, click on that phrase to open the entire list.
  4. When the list opens, select the installation or contact you want; information opens in a new box.
  5. The map and list use Google Maps for you to get directions.
screenshot of part of a map illustrating the text directions
Example mini-map

Download map information as a Word .docx:

Illinois     Indiana     Iowa     Kansas     Kentucky     Michigan     Minnesota     Missouri     Montana     Nebraska     North Dakota     Ohio     South Dakota     Wisconsin     West Virginia     Wyoming

 

Region D Military Installations and Contacts

The maps help you find military installations in your state, along with contact information for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Family Support or School Liaison Office (SLO) staff in each location. For Coast Guard and National Guard locations, we have contacts for the Special Needs Program (SNP) and the Family Assistance Coordinators, respectively. Contacts who support Recruiter families are also included.

Scroll down to find the mini-map for your state. 

  1.  To open the map, click on the open square icon, which is in the upper right corner of each mini-map on this page.
  2. In the open map you can click on a colored icon for contact information, or use the side list. You can also drag the map along on this page by placing the cursor on the map and moving the cursor when it becomes a hand.
  3. For just the list of installations and contacts, click on the list icon at the top left of the mini-map. If it says something like “and 55 more”, click on that phrase to open the entire list.
  4. When the list opens, select the installation or contact you want; information opens in a new box.
  5. The map and list use Google Maps for you to get directions.
screenshot of part of a map illustrating the text directions
Example mini-map

Download map information as a Word .docx:

Arizona     Alaska     California     Colorado          Hawaii     Idaho       New Mexico     Nevada     Oregon     PACIFIC BASIN     Utah     Washington

 

 

 

 

Region B Military Installations and Contacts

The maps help you find military installations in your state, along with contact information for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Family Support or School Liaison Office (SLO) staff in each location. For Coast Guard and National Guard locations, we have contacts for the Special Needs Program (SNP) and the Family Assistance Coordinators, respectively. Contacts who support Recruiter families are also included.

Scroll down to find the mini-map for your state. 

  1.  To open the map, click on the open square icon, which is in the upper right corner of each mini-map on this page.
  2. In the open map you can click on a colored icon for contact information, or use the side list. You can also drag the map along on this page by placing the cursor on the map and moving the cursor when it becomes a hand.
  3. For just the list of installations and contacts, click on the list icon at the top left of the mini-map. If it says something like “and 55 more”, click on that phrase to open the entire list.
  4. When the list opens, select the installation or contact you want; information opens in a new box.
  5. The map and list use Google Maps for you to get directions.
screenshot of part of a map illustrating the text directions
Example mini-map

Download map information as a Word .docx:

Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas

Connecting with Coast Guard Families

Coast Guard families usually live near their installations-along coastlines but also far inland on rivers that connect to a coastline. Do you serve a region of the country where Coast Guard families can be found? Check out the map in your region of the country for your local Coast Guard! This article will help your center locate and serve Coast Guard families and identifies possible best points of contact for outreach. Continue reading “Connecting with Coast Guard Families”

New Tools and Updates Plus Essentials for Your Military Family Toolkit

We know you store, save and have useful tools available for your work with families.  Whether it’s bookmarks with folders labeled by topic or subject, saving resources in Word or Excel documents or printing some to easily share during your one-to-one support or at resource fairs, we’ve got you covered! In our back to school season it’s only logical we offer you new tools, essential resources and updates that you can look at today, save for another time and store for your work with military families. Continue reading “New Tools and Updates Plus Essentials for Your Military Family Toolkit”

Going to a Military Installation? Check Your ID

Update as of December 3, 2019:

Can you use your current ID to gain access to a military installation, under the Real ID Law? The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been phasing in this law’s requirements, and almost every state is in the process of issuing new, compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. The DHS website states”DHS is working closely with all states and territories to provide assistance and guidance to achieve full compliance by the October 1, 2020 deadline. As of September 5, 2019, 50 states and territories are fully compliant with the REAL ID requirements, and all states are on track to begin issuing compliant licenses and IDs by the October 1, 2020 deadline.” 

Regarding military installations, the DHS website states “The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently finalized an update to its DoD-wide installation security policy and is in the process of no longer accepting noncompliant marked cards across all of its facilities and installations. However, DoD will continue to accept state-issued noncompliant unmarked “legacy” cards until the October 1, 2020 deadline.”

If you think you might still be using a current, non-compliant ID after October 1, 2020, due to your state’s rollout schedule for the new, compliant IDs, you should know that  other types of documents can be used for installation access. Contact the installation you wish to access to find out what IDs are currently accepted-installation command have the discretion to consider other, supplemental forms of identification. You may also accompany someone with a valid military ID card.

DHS’s REAL ID FAQs page  can answer many of your questions about the REAL ID law and how it will impact activities such as installation access and commercial air travel. 

You can find out more about your state’s process to issue REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs through the main DHS REAL ID webpage.