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EFMP News Your free guide to EFMP services, entertainment and educational opportunities on Joint Base Lewis-McChord FREE Exceptional Family Member Program October 2014 Upcoming Events Pages 2-3 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Pages 5-8 Pending an Overseas Move? Page 4

EFMP News/October 2014

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JBLM Armed Forces Community Service (AFCS) Information and events for Families with special needs on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

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Page 1: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 1

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

FREE

Exceptional Family Member Program October 2014

Upcoming Events Pages 2-3

National Disability Employment

Awareness MonthPages 5-8

Pending an Overseas Move?

Page 4

Page 2: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 2

In this issue:

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

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

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

usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dfmwr-acs-exceptional-family-member@mail.mil

EFMP Program Manager: Mary Herrera253-967-9704

EFMP Staff Members:

Upcoming Events, pg. 2-3JBLM Info, pg. 4Overseas Move, pg. 4National Disability Employment Awareness Month, pg. 5-8Local Support Groups, pg. 9Birth-to-Three Services, pg. 9EFMP Enrollment Process, pg. 9Resources at your fingertips, pg. 10

Nancy Dozier: 253-967-9705Carol Watrous: 253-967-3451Cheryl Hoyson: 253-967-5795Rick Kivett: 253-967-9097Lynn Shick: 253-967-3464Anthony Buggage: 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 ques-tions about available services, concerns, or if you need resources or advocacy at Joint Base Lewis-McChord or in the civilian community.

SKIES Registration Oct. 6-24, Parent Central Services, Lewis Main & McChord Field to register for November SKIES classes. Registration for classes is the first Monday through the fourth Friday of the previous month. For a description of classes or to register your child, go to JBLMmwr.com & click on the yellow WebTrac button.

PURPAS– Monthly Meeting Oct. 8, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Henry Foss High School, 2112 South Tyler Street, Tacoma, Rooms 213A and 215A. Please bring your own beverage; snacks will be provided. For more information on meetings please contact Susan Jackson at 253-565-2266, ext 107, or Sybille White at ext 118.

Special Families of Pierce County Oct. 9, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Children’s Museum of Tacoma, “How To Incorporate Essential Oils Into Your Everyday Life & Move Toward Safer Alternatives” by Kimberly Burke, Autism mom who has successfully been using oils with her family for years. RSVP at www.exceptional-families.org/events.html each month for childcare.

EFMP Family Friendly Movie Oct. 18, 12:00-2:00 p.m. “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” McChord Theater. FREE. Sensory controlled environment. Perfect for special needs and young viewers. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own snacks. For more information contact 253-982-2695.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS Special Olympics Bowling began Sep. 8. Thirty-six athletes and unified partners signed up to participate. Practice is held Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. at the Bowling Alley on JBLM. The JBLM Tigers will be participating in the regional tournament on Oct. 26 at Pacific Lanes in Tacoma.

Community EvEnts

53rd Tacoma Greek Festival Oct. 3-5, Fri. and Sat. 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1523 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma (98405), 253-272-0466, http://stnicholastacoma.org/greekfestival.

october

Page 3: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 3

EFMP News is an authorized unofficial community information source published for members of the Joint Base Lewis-Mc-Chord EFMP community. There is no U.S. government endorsement of any commer-cial 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: [email protected]

Policy:We encourage letters to the editor, but they must be signed. We will consider withhold-ing the name of the author upon request. Letters regarding an issue should contrib-ute 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

estate wills and trusts, and transportation: intercity transit and village vans. Bring your ideas for future focus topics, childcare in NOT available. Contact: Sylvia Heiser (360) 352-1126 ext 106.

Strengths Profile Parent Workshop Oct. 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Exceptional Families Network (EFN) is partnering with A Common Voice to bring this great content to our special needs Families. Parents will learn about an advocacy tool that helps with resiliency. They will find it’s a very useful tool for their child to help with teachers and IEP meetings. This workshop will be held at the EFN office in Puyallup. Register at www.exceptional-families.org/events.html. $5 fee per person.

41st Annual Steilacoom Apple Squeeze Sun., Oct. 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., historic downtown Steilacoom. For more information contact 253-584-9410 or www.steilacoomhistorical.org.

Thurston Co. Transition Support Group Oct. 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., SSP2P office, 1012 Homann Drive SE, Lacey. Monthly potluck dinner on the 2nd Tue. Preparing for transition from school to work can be very daunting for parents and young people. SSP2P will be working with the county and other support agencies to support our special needs Families in this phase of life. Topics for discussion include IEP essentials, guardianship, social security income (SSI), housing,

Happy Halloween!

Events...

Page 4: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 4 5

It’s been brought to our atten-tion that some servicemembers are assuming that their Families will be unable to accompany

Open Shred Day at the Installation Destruction Facility, building 3152, 3rd Division Dr. and Collier Ave. (Due to construction efforts on JBLM 3rd Division Dr. is currently closed from Pendleton past Collier Ave. Recommend taking 4th Div. Dr. to Collier Ave to access the facility.) Do you have personal documents that have been piling up and need to be shredded? Come to the Installation Destruction Facility the first Friday of each Month – Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 from 8-11:00 a.m. No more than three printer paper size boxes per person. Remove paper clips and documents from binders.

For more information go to www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/DPTMS/security/destruction.htm.

JBLM Oktoberfest Sat., Oct. 4, starting at 11:00 a.m. in the MWR Fest Tent located at 2200 Liggett Ave. behind Bowl Arena Lanes, Free Admission. Call 253-967-5776 for more information or go to http://www.jblmmwr.com/oktoberfest/.

Commissary Closure The Lewis Main Commissary will be conducting a full store reset on Oct. 9-11. The commissary will close on Oct. 9 at 2:00 p.m. and will reopen for business on Oct. 12 at 9:00 a.m. The new store

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Informationlayout will be available in the Commissary on Oct. 12 for customers.

Fire Safety Fair Sat., Oct. 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., MWR Fest Tent. Inflatable, Face painter, Balloon art, static displays, and more.

Madigan Army Medical Center – Skip the wait and get connected with RelayHealth Log on to www.relayhealth.com and select your Primary Care Manager (PCM). This systems allows you to email your doctor, view lab and test results, request medication refills, get a referral, and more. Visit www.mamc.amedd.army.mil.

them to an overseas duty station due to the nature and extent of their exceptional Family mem-ber’s medical and/or educational needs. In an effort to minimize the time and effort of those involved, sponsors are mistak-enly circumventing the overseas screening process and choos-ing to serve an “all-others” tour believing this will allow them to retain their homes on base. This is not the case. The best way to

Pending an Overseas Move?ensure the likelihood of a Fam-ily being able to retain its hous-ing during an unaccompanied tour, is for the sponsor to fully engage in the overseas screen-ing process and await receipt of official orders stating that the servicemember is on a “depen-dent restricted tour”. That being said, please note that Equity Residential makes the final de-termination regarding a Family’s ability to continue to reside in the home.

Page 5: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 5 5

JBLM EFMP Joins Broad Effort to Observe National Disability

Employment Awareness Month --The Exceptional Family Member Program is participating in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness cam-

paign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to focus on disability awareness and celebrate the many and varied con-tributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945, when Con-gress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week”. In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individu-als with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.We all have a role to play in – and a benefit to gain from – increasing op-portunities for meaningful employ-ment for people with disabilities. This year’s theme encapsulates this in three powerful words. It conveys that advancing disability employ-ment is about much more than just hiring from within this population. “It’s about creating a continuum of inclusion. And the first step on this continuum is expectation,” said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy when announcing this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme: “Expect.

Expect. Employ. Empower.October is National Disability

Employment Awareness

Month

Page 6: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 6

Employ. Empower.”The campaign for Disability Em-ployment is a collaborative effort convened by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employ-ment Policy (ODEP) to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encour-aging employers and others to recognize the value and talent these individuals bring to the workplace. ODEP’s priority is to increase the expectations of youth with disabili-ties, their parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, as well as future employers about what a person with disabilities can achieve.People with Disabilities have the skills to pursue meaningful careers; they play an important role in Amer-ica’s educational and economic suc-cess. In fact, experience with a dis-

ability can offer a competitive edge when it comes to work. If you are a person with a disability, only you can define your limitations. High expectations are essential to success. Organizations exist that can help you seek employment, identify the tools you need to be productive on the job, and understand your right to be evaluated on your ability rather than your disability. After all, it’s what people can do that matters.Work is fundamental to our lives. It means so much more than a pay-check – it offers purpose and the opportunity to lead an independent, self-directed life for all people, in-cluding people with disabilities.“What can YOU do?” is a positive outreach initiative aimed at increas-ing the employment rate of people with disabilities by challenging

What can YOU do?Cindy Carter, owner of Power Crews, is a true example of EXPECT. EMPLOY. EMPOWER. Cindy is the mother of 2 children with disabilities. Cindy is self-employed. She started a business for individuals with disabilities so they can become independent. “By doing my business, I can see the difference in people with disabilities and show them how people can see them in a different view. I’ve seen them grow, bring up their self-esteem and learn that they can accomplish things they never dreamed. I enjoy helping people with disabilities to join together using their talents in business and see that by working together we can accomplish more.” Power Crews empowers people

with disabilities to become self-employed. Cindy Carter serves customers in Pierce and King County. She is an Ambassador of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. The Power Crews website can be found at www.thepowercrews.com.

the Center for independenceThis is a non-profit that serves people with all disabilities and supports them toward living inde-pendently and participating in the community as much as they desire. The center is a non-residential, com-munity based organization. The core services include independent

living skills training, peer support, advocacy, and information and referral. Among their many pro-grams is the Out and About support group for adults, a Youth Transition Program which serves ages 14-24, and the Roads to Community Living program which involves transition-ing people out of nursing homes and into the community. Staff members work one-on-one with clients to help them set goals and develop a plan on how to achieve those goals. What makes them unique is that they are comprised of individuals with disabilities serving people with disabilities. For more information contact, Leah Velasco, MSW Youth Transition Program Manager, Center For Independence at www.centerfo-rindependence.org.

common misperceptions. It sends a clear message: People with disabili-ties want to work and their talents and abilities benefit businesses both financially and organizationally. By implementing good workplace prac-tices, such as maintaining a flexible and inclusive work environment, businesses can capitalize on the talents of qualified people with dis-abilities. All it takes is recognizing the value they add to the workforce and fostering a work culture that welcomes the talents of the individu-al. Visit: www.whatcanyoudocam-paign.org for more information.Reflecting this year’s theme, EFMP would like to highlight some organi-zations who have taken this philoso-phy to heart.

Power Crews

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EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 7

Page 8: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 8

Sources:“ODEP - Office of Disability Employment Policy.” U.S. Department of Labor. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://www.dol.gov/odep>.“At Work, It’s What People CAN Do That Matters.” The Campaign for Disability Employment. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/>.

The ENRICH program helps people with developmental disabilities with employment, volunteering, and community access activities. ENRICH serves adults with developmental disabilities throughout Pierce County.

our vision• Access to the community will be

available to all.• Our community will have

respect, consideration and dignity for all.

• Everyone will be valued and accepted for his or her individuality and character.

• Basic needs are met and people will have safe, healthy environments.

• All people will be valued for the contributions they make to the community.

• People will embrace employment.

• People will have the community connections of their choice.

• An environment will exist where everyone can achieve self advocacy.

our mission Increase community awareness, cultivate work resources and build relationships that utilize the gifts of all people. For more information please contact: Barb Fournier, Manager, ENRICH Program at [email protected].

EnRiCH Program

Page 9: EFMP News/October 2014

EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 9

EFMP Enrollment Process

Birth To Three Early Intervention Programs

Contact the Lead Agency for your county for a referral for services. Family Resource Coordination/Pierce County: 253-798-3790South Sound Parent To Parent/Thurston County: 360-352-1126Holly Ridge Center/Kitsap and Mason counties: 360-373-2536Community Health Access Program (CHAP)/King County: 206-284-0331

Support Groups for You & Yours

If your Family member has a health condi-tion that necessitates a specialist or spe-cialty 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 educa-tion, 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 expi-ration; it is required for a change in marital status or a significant improvement that no longer warrants enrollment.

Army — Submit your completed enroll-ment 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 enroll-ment or overseas screenings, please call 253-968-0254/1370/4355. This office is closed on Thursdays.

Air Force — Submit your completed enrollment forms to the SNC office 62nd Medical Clinic, first floor of Airman’s Clinic Bioenvironmental hallway, second/third office on left. For a PCS screening or for questions call SSGT Michelle Sutton at 253-982-3350. Lois Fisher is the Special Needs Coordinator at 253-982-5568. Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday 0800-1530; Wednesday 0800-1100. Closed 2nd Tues-day 1200 – 1530; Closed on Thursday. For Air Force Respite Care, contact the Ser-vicemember & Family Readiness Center at 253-982-2695.

EFMP Family Support Services Bldg. 2140, Waller Hall, Room 400, JBLM-Lewis Main; Bldg. 552, Servicemember & Family Readiness Center, JBLM-McChord Field. Installation and local resources and ser-vices, housing and school issues, IEP/504 plans, respite care, systems navigation, advocacy, support groups, monthly newsletter, disability services and Special Needs Accommodation Process are avail-able for all Army and Air Force EFMP Families.

SPECIAL FAMILIES OF PIERCE COUNTY

groups for peer support, employ-ment, recovery and wellness, hous-ing, independent living, and veter-ans’ services.

PURPASA family support group open toall (parents, children, and helpingprofessionals) for individuals withAutism. Participants meet on the2nd Wednesday of the month atHenry Foss High School, 2112 SouthTyler Street, Tacoma, Room 213A and 215A, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Bring your own beverage; snacks will be provided. For more informa-tion please contact PAVE at 253-565-2266. Susan Jackson: [email protected] or Sybille White:[email protected].

TACIDTacoma Area Coalition of Individu-als with Disabilities promotes the independence of individuals with disabilities. It is located at 6315 South 19th Street, Tacoma. Call 253-565-9000 for further information. The website is www.tacid.org and has a program link to an extensive schedule of workshops and support

the corner of 15th and Pacific Av-enue. Street parking is free after 6 p.m. Childcare is limited and pre-registration is required each month. To RSVP go to: www.exceptional-families.org/events.html. Contact Angela Fish at [email protected] for further information.

Special Families of Pierce County (SFPC) is a support group for families with special needs children in the South Sound region.Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, 1501 Pacific Avenue, on

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EFMP News • October 2014 2140 Liggett Ave., Room 400 253-967-9704/9705 10

Resources

Individuals With DisabilitiesAcommonvoice.org (Counseling)

Addresources.org (ADD/ADHD)

Autismsocietyofwa.org (Autism)

Autismspeaks.org (Autism)

Biorxhemophilia.com (Bleeding disorders)

Exceptional-families.org (SN Support Group)

Featwa.org (Autism)

Gluten.net (Gluten Intolerance Group)

Hsdc.org (Hearing Speech and Deafness Center)

Pc2online.org (PC2 for Developmental Dis-abilities)

Piercecountywa.org/companionship (Pierce County Parks & Recreation)

Stompproject.org (Specialized Training for Military Parents)

Tbiwashington.org (Traumatic Brain Injury of Washington)

Thecpnetwork.org (Cerebral Palsy)

Family AssistanceCdc.gov/ncbddd/index.html (National Center on Birth Defects and Developmen-tal Disabilities (NCBDDD))

Efoodnet.org (Pierce County Food Banks)

Metroparkstacoma.org/specialized

MilitaryOneSource.mil

MyTricare.com (Tricare)

Ssa.gov (Social Security)

Uhcmilitarywest.com (Tricare Western Region)

Usacares.org (Military Family Assistance Center)

Children’s ServicesNaccrra.org/militay-families (ChildCare Aware of America)

Nmfa.org (National Military FamilyFamily Association)

Psesd.org (Puget Sound Educational Service District)

Ssp2p.org (South Sound Parent2Parent)

FacebookFacebook.com/efmpjblm

Facebook.com/JBLMFamilyMWR

Facebook.com/JBLMcyssSER

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