As you prepare for your next assignment, you should know the Coast Guard Special Needs Program is here to help active-duty family members who have medical, psychological, physical, or educational special needs.
The Special Needs Program accommodates specific needs for dependents when the member is being reassigned.
“We ensure members and their families are within acceptable distances to the care or services they need,” said Sue Carter, the Special Needs Program manager. The program is mandatory for service members who have dependents that meet the program enrollment criteria. This ensures the unique needs of families are considered in the assignment process and at every duty station.
Here are the steps to apply for the Special Needs Program:
- Step One: (Reach Out) Contact the Regional Family Resource Specialist (FRS) in your servicing Work-Life office to help determine if enrollment is warranted for your family.
- Step Two: (Receive Information) The Regional FRS will answer any questions you have about the benefits of this program and if you qualify for enrollment. The Regional FRS will also send you a one-page tip sheet, a guide to the Special Needs Categories, and the appropriate DD-2792 enrollment forms.
- Step Three: (Fill-Out Paperwork and Return Forms) Once you fill out and sign your portion of the paperwork, your medical or educational provider will need to fill and sign out their portion. Once the forms are completed, you send the forms back to the Regional FRS. The FRS will review them for accuracy and assess the category for educational needs (using form DD-2792.1) and send all medical forms (DD-2792) to your regional Coast Guard Senior Medical Executive to evaluate and assign the appropriate enrollment category for the distance to medical services. The category is used to assist in the assignments process. The categories used for geographic assignments for families with Special Needs are:
- Category 1 - no geographic limitations.
- Category 2 - services within 100 miles of your unit zip code.
- Category 3 - services within 50 miles of your unit zip code.
- Category 4 - services within 25 miles of your unit zip code.
- Category 5 - you have to be within 25 miles because your family has considerable medical challenges that require them to be close to your provider.
- Step 4: (Information to Direct Access) Your case category and contact information is then entered into Direct Access (DA) by the Health, Safety and Work Life’s Service Center, who then assigns your case to an FRS. Your assignment officer will then see your category and the assigned FRS in DA for future assignment considerations. The Regional FRS will pass on your case to your assigned FRS, who will manage your case for the life of your enrollment.
- Step 5: (Support for you and your family) - Your assigned FRS will reach out to provide support services to you and your family. They will also notify your command of your enrollment status.
“It’s not a difficult process but it is layered to ensure we consider all of your needs,” said Carter. “We aim to support our Coast Guard families as our members work to support the Coast Guard’s mission.”
Family Resource Specialist Ken Weber added, “We are here to navigate moving through an otherwise challenging time when trying to move from location to location with a special needs family member.”
Reach out to your Family Resource Specialist for questions regarding the Special Needs Program.
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