LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Lackland is one of four Air Education and Training Command bases participating in a new program that provides more comprehensive and proactive family support for active-duty Airmen who have family members with special needs.
The Air Force created positions for Exceptional Family Member Program family support coordinators at 35 Airman and Family Readiness Centers worldwide based on the highest number of EFMP-enrolled Airmen. Lackland ranks near the top with 758 EFMP families.
Audrey Jolivette, Lackland's EFMP coordinator, is energized about the challenge to implement the new startup program.
"It is exciting," Mrs. Jolivette said. "My focus is to streamline the access to support services for exceptional family members and be an advocate for those individuals. I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Recognizing EFMP has traditionally been an assignment-focused program, Air Force senior leaders want to grow the program's support.
Mrs. Jolivette will partner with the special needs coordinator at Wilford Hall Medical Center and military personnel assignments to provide additional support for special needs families.
Mrs. Jolivette has experience in assisting special needs families, having worked in assignments during part of her 23-year Air Force career, and also holds a master's degree in counseling.
She will assist Airmen and their families in connecting to community support services through information and referral to on-base, off-base, local, state and federal agencies before, during and after permanent changes of station.
She will also provide community awareness and education on EFMP and support outreach services, and help special needs families negotiate the challenges of moving from base to base.
"We want to provide families with the tools they need and show them how to use those tools to empower themselves to take care of their family," Mrs. Jolivette said. "I also want to educate the community and base leaders on EFMP.
"We want to make PCS transition easier for those families."
Sharon Witter, Lackland AFRC chief, said the new program will augment what is already in place on base.
"This will establish more of a partnership with the medical side," Ms. Witter said. "Since this is new, we're developing how it is going to fit.
"Audrey is doing a fantastic job. She had nothing to start with so that's the challenge: building a new service under AFRC from the ground up."
For more information on the Exceptional Family Member Program support services, contact Mrs. Jolivette at the Airman and Family Readiness Center or call the center 671-3722.