Photo/chris basham
Exceptional Family Member Program Family Support Specialist Adreinne Barnett, seated, and Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center Special Needs Coordinator Nicole Macri work together to help families with children with autism access the support and other services that can benefit their entire family.
Autism, a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before age three, impacts brain development in the areas of social interaction, communication skills and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction and play. Though there is no cure, research is ongoing and with appropriate support and treatment people with autism can see improvement of their symptoms.
A diagnosis of autism is not a one-size-fits-all label. Children and adults with autism can fall anywhere on a spectrum of disorder and function. Whether a child is a recently diagnosed toddler or a teenager dealing with the challenges of learning how to handle coworkers and the dating scene, autism can affect the whole family.
Since it was stood up three years ago, the mandatory Exceptional Family Member Program helps service members whose families include individuals with special needs, including autism, access the resources and support available to them both on Joint Base Andrews and in the broader community. EFMP Family Support Specialist Adreinne Barnett said that while autism research is a hot topic in the news, it is still not certain what causes the disorder: Genetic mutations, early childhood immunizations or environmental factors.
Its going to be a while, before they can say what the cause is, said Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center Special Needs Coordinator Nicole Macri. It probably is a combination of those factors. What we do know, is that it is becoming more prevalent among dependents.
About one in every 88 children born in America today is diagnosed with some form of autism. The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-5, released in 2013, includes updated criteria for diagnosing autism and discusses previously ignored factors such as environmental trauma.
Service members may first learn about EFMP at a pediatric visit, or in a conversation with a child care provider. Whether newly diagnosed or just new to JBA, families must register their EFMP-eligible members, and once they do they can take advantage of the information and other services EFMP provides.
Macri helps identify families with an exceptional family member, and then helps to coordinate their medical, behavioral and mental health care. She also facilitates medical processing for dependents of service members who are preparing for a permanent change of station, whether within the continental United States or abroad. That process can take as long as 90 days, and involves paperwork which can look overwhelming.
Theres a lot of negative thinking about the medical piece before PCSing, but this makes sure that the services and support an exceptional family member needs to thrive are available at that gaining installation, said Macri, whose professional background is in mental health as it relates to child welfare. If we can identify an exceptional family member before they arrive here, we do care coordination between TRICARE, here, Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed (National Military Medical Center).
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Families of children with autism have resources