R 231803Z NOV 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 655/10
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/WASHINGTON DC/MRA MR//
SUBJ/PROCEDURAL CHANGES TO EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO P1754.4B/-//
REF/B/-/DODD 1342.17/-//
POC/R. LAPORTE/NF-05/UNIT:MRY1/-/TEL:DSN 278-0298//
NARR/REF A IS MCO P1754.4B, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM REF B IS DODD 1342.17//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  BACKGROUND.  USMC IS SENSITIVE TO EFMP FAMILY NEEDS.  TO HELP ENSURE A STEADY AND SEAMLESS CONTINUUM OF CARE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ALLOW THE MARINE TO MEET HIS/HER CAREER OBLIGATIONS, RESPITE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ENROLLED FAMILIES.
2.  SITUATION.  THIS MARADMIN IS CLARIFYING PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE IN SUPPORT OF MCO P1754.4B, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM POLICY. THE EFMP RESPITE CARE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO REDUCE STRESS ON SPONSOR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING TEMPORARY, SHORT DURATION REST PERIODS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CARE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.  ALL EFM SPONSORS WHO REQUEST USMC EFMP FAMILY SUPPORT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO 40 HOURS OF RESPITE CARE PER MONTH, PER FAMILY, AT AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT RATES.  RESPITE CARE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES OTHER THAN THE ARMED SERVICES, WILL NOT BE COUNTED AGAINST THE USMC EFMP RESPITE CARE PROGRAM'S MONTHLY ALLOCATION OF HOURS. RESPITE CARE POLICIES ARE OUTLINED BELOW TO IMPROVE THE MARINE CORPS CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR ENROLLED FAMILIES.  IT IS RECOGNIZED; HOWEVER, THAT RESPITE CARE IS NOT REQUIRED BY ALL EFMP ENROLLED FAMILIES.
3.  ISSUE.
A.  THERE IS CONFUSION REGARDING AUTHORIZATION FOR ADULT RESPITE CARE DELIVERY.  TO CLARIFY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF B, ADULT EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS LEVEL FOUR (LEVEL OF NEED) MAY UTILIZE RESPITE FOR ADULT CARE AND BE REIMBURSED FOR RESPITE CARE AS PRESCRIBED IN REF A.
B.  ADDITIONALLY, QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED REGARDING RESPITE CARE FOR OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS ATTACHED TO MARINE CORPS UNITS.  REF A ALLOWS ELIGIBLE SERVICE MEMBERS ASSIGNED TO MARINE CORPS UNITS TO UTILIZE RESPITE CARE.
4.  THIS MARADMIN CLARIFIES RESPITE CARE POLICY CONTAINED IN REF A. AND SHOULD BE UTILIZED AS SUCH.
5.  THESE PROCEDURAL CHANGES WILL NOT APPLY RETROACTIVELY.
6.  THESE PROCEDURAL CHANGES ARE APPLICABLE TO THE TOTAL FORCE.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY NF6 (SES) T. R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//