R 191954Z JUN 12 ALCOAST 294/12 COMDTNOTE 1754 SUBJ: COAST GUARD (CG) SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM ENROLLMENT REMINDER A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 241558Z AUG 11/ALCOAST 400/11 1. In anticipation of the upcoming transfer season, the Office of Work-Life, COMDT (CG-111), is providing information regarding the CG Special Needs Program. 2. As stated in Ref A, the Special Needs Program is a mandatory enrollment program for all active duty (AD) and selected reserve members on orders for 180 days or more (hereinafter referred to as AD members) who have dependent family members diagnosed with medical, psychological, physical, or educational special needs. The objective of the program is to identify and support the special needs of a CG family while allowing the active duty member to maintain the maximum assignment flexibility possible. 3. AD members must enroll in the Special Needs Program if they have family members who meet one or more of the following conditions: a. Medical special needs: (1) Medical conditions which would limit the worldwide assignment ability of AD members (e.g., autism, high-risk newborns, sickle cell disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus, etc.). (2) Medical conditions that require monitoring on a periodic basis due to the potential of limiting members worldwide assignment (e.g., remission of cancer within the last 5 years, etc.). (3) Potentially life-threatening medical conditions (e.g., high risk pregnancy, AIDS, etc.). (4) Diagnosis of asthma or other respiratory-related diagnosis with chronic and recurring wheezing which meets one of the following criteria: (a) Scheduled use of inhaled and anti-inflammatory agents and/or bronchodilators. (b) History of emergency room use or clinic visits for acute asthma exacerbations within the last year. (c) History of one or more hospitalizations for asthma within the past 5 years. (d) History of intensive care admissions for asthma within the past 5 years. b. Psychological special needs: (1) Current and chronic (duration of 6 months or longer) mental health condition (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, substance addiction, and/or personality disorders, etc.). (2) Inpatient, or intensive outpatient mental health services within the last 5 years (e.g., day treatment program, counseling provided at frequency greater than 1 time per week, etc). (3) Intensive (greater than one visit monthly for more than 6 months) mental health services required at the present time (consisting of medical care from any provider, including a primary health care provider). (4) Diagnosis of attention deficit disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that meets one of the following criteria: (a) Family member has any additional psychological diagnosis. (b) Family member requires multiple medications, psycho-pharmaceuticals (other than stimulants) or does not respond to normal doses of medication. (c) Family member requires management and treatment by mental health provider (for example, psychiatrist, psychologist, and/or social worker). (d) Family member requires a mental health specialty consultant, other than a family practice physician or general medical officer, more than twice a year on a chronic basis. (e) Family member requires modification of the educational curriculum or the use of behavioral management staff. c. Physical special needs: (1) Family member requires adaptive equipment for 6 months or longer (such as an apnea home monitor, home nebulizer, wheelchair, splints, orthotics, hearing aids, home oxygen therapy, home ventilator, etc). (2) Family member requires environmental and/or architectural considerations (e.g., limited number of steps, wheelchair accessibility, and/or housing modifications, and air conditioning, etc.). (3) Family member requires assistive technology devices (such as communication devices) or services. d. Educational special needs: (1) Child (birth through 2 years of age) has or requires an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). (2) Child (3 through 21 years of age) has or requires an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). 4. Special Needs Program enrollment updates for each family member enrolled in the program are due every 3 years, normally when the member submits his/her e-resume. Exceptions to this timeline (i.e., instances requiring an update) are as follows: a. There is a change in medical or mental health related diagnosis, or a new diagnosis develops. b. There is a change in early intervention or special education needs. c. If an update is due at the time of a projected rotation date, it must be initiated at least nine months prior to that date. 5. For new enrollments and enrollment updates, Family Member Medical Summary, DD Form 2792 (for medical, psychological, and physical conditions) and Special Education/Early Intervention Summary, DD Form 2792-1 (for educational special needs) shall be completed by the family members medical provider or school personnel (respectively) and submitted by the member to the servicing Health, Safety and Work-Life (HSWL) Family Resource Specialist (FRS). 6. Commanding officers and officers-in-charge shall ensure that all AD members are made aware of this policy. They shall also ensure that all AD members who have family members with special needs meeting the criteria listed above comply with the mandatory enrollment requirement. 7. POC for this matter is Ms. Marta Denchfield, Special Needs Program Manager. She may be reached at 202-475-5156 or by email at Marta.E.Denchfield(at)uscg.mil. 8. RADM M. K. Dollymore, Director of Health, Safety, and Work-Life sends. 9. Internet release authorized.