MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- The Exceptional Family Member Program works with other military and civilian agencies to provide support for housing, educational, medical and personnel services to families with special needs in the Marine Corps community.
When the EMFP held its quarterly meeting aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, July 30 at the base chapel, base residents voiced their concerns to representatives from all major facilities.
Family members also expressed their gratitude for all the hard work by MCB Hawaii employees to make life for exceptional family members easier.
Residents told several success stories concerning the ability of their children to participate in base events and activities, to include those that are sports related.
Currently, there are more than 260 residents aboard MCB Hawaii that are considered to have special needs. The majority of those are children under the age of 18.
"We have started a disability support program that will be help once a month," said Navy Capt. Joseph Estabrook, command chaplain at MCB Hawaii. "They have been able to generate many great ideas amongst themselves, and recently, with the help of their ideas, we have established a Disabilities Section in the base library where people can research almost any question they might have regarding disabilities and find contacts to assist them.
"We are here for these families and are concerned for their well-being."
"We have been able to make a lot of progress through the help of the [EFMP], "said a family member aboard MCB Hawaii who chose to remain anonymous. "Our child is now able to participate in the events, including the sports, on base, and is given the assistance he needs while he interacts with other children."