Respite Care Overview

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) initiated the

Respite Care Reimbursement Program in 2008 to support the

impact of a high operational tempo and the particular impact to

families who support a family member with exceptional needs.

The Respite Care Reimbursement program is intended to reduce

stress on a sponsor’s families by providing temporary rest periods

for family members who care for those with special needs.

Respite care is intended to be used as a short break or rest

period for the primary care provider. Some examples would be for:

date night, lunch with a friend, haircut, to take a nap or go to

the gym, etc.

If you have questions about the Respite Care Reimbursement

Program or want to know if you are eligible, call your Family Case

Worker or the EFMP Office at 808-257-0290 or join us on Adobe

Connect on 12 May.

When we practice ‘Imi ola as a personal value, we create

and fulfill our own destiny. ʻImi ola is to seek the

highest form of our well-being. This is not selfish,

but expressive: To ‘Imi ola is to define and celebrate

your gifts as you breathe best working form into your

actions, growing into the person you’re meant to be

— the person you can most generously share with

others through your Aloha Spirit.

In this issue:

Respite Care Overview

New D.O.T. Rule for Emotional

Support Animals

Service Animals vs. Therapy

Animals

PCSing with a Service Animal

Relocating Soon?

To Learn more about Respite Care

Join us on Adobe Connect 12 May at 11:00-11:30am for discussion and Q & A.

Link: https://meeting.marinenet.usmc.mil/r7xqzne0kflr/

Service Animals vs. Therapy Animals

What is the difference between a Service Animal and a Therapy Animal?

Neither service animals, nor therapy animals are considered “just pets”.

Sometimes people may confuse therapy animals with service animals. There

are differences between how they are viewed when it comes to American

with Disabilities Act Rules and civil rights laws.

A service animal is defined as a dog or miniature horse that has been

individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a

disability. The task performed by the dog or miniature horse must be directly

related to the person’s disability.

A therapy animal, also referred to as a comfort animal or more popularly

known as an emotional support animal, is a term used to describe an animal

that provides comfort just by being with a person. The animal has not been

trained to complete a specific job or task. Therapy/emotional support ani-

mals still play an important role in the life of their partner. Both the ADA and

Hawaii State law specifically state they are not service animals, and do not

have the same access to public establishments as service dogs do; however,

therapy/emotional support animals that provide support for individuals with

disabilities are also not considered “just a pet”.

Housing providers must comply with the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which does

provide for access of therapy/emotional support animals. While it is not

necessary to submit a written request, or to use the words “reasonable

accommodations”, or “assistance animal”, or any other special words to

request a reasonable accommodation under the FHA, persons making a re-

quest are encouraged to do so in order to avoid miscommunication. You may

also want to keep a copy of the supporting documentation in case there is a

later dispute about whether a reasonable accommodation request was made.

To learn more about this topic, join EFMP on WebEx on 21 May at 2:00pm.

To Learn more about Service Animals vs. Therapy Animals

Join us on WebEx 21 May at 2:00pm

Link: https://meetingsamer23.webex.com/meetingsamer23/j.php?MTID=m79d80c284cdca86229d0632b55b65f58

Meeting number: 126 343 9787

New D.O.T. Rule for Emotional Support Animals

In December of 2020 the Department of Transportation revised its rules around flying with emotional support

animals. Only service animals are required by law to be allowed to fly with passengers on commercial airlines.

The revised rules of the Air Carrier Access Act define a service animal as “a dog that is individually trained to

do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.”

Individual airlines will set policies

to conform to the DOT rules, which

will be effective 30 days after the

final ruling is published in the

Federal Register.

This is a change from the previous

DOT guidance that was in effect

last year, which stated that the

airlines could not restrict

passengers from traveling with

emotional support animals, or ban

specific breed or species of support

animals. The airlines currently are

prohibited from refusing service

dogs based on their breed, which

will continue under the new rules.

Many disability advocates and

airline personnel alike are in favor

of the new rules. Source: http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/new-dot-rule-paves-the-way-for-airlines-to-ban-emotional-support-animals-on-flights/ar-BB1bzeNw?ocid=ientp

PCSing with a Service Animal

Your service animal may accompany

you on flights

Your service animal may stay in hotel

lodging without accruing additional

pet fees. However, if the animal

causes damage, the hotel is permitted

to charge for damages.

Prior to OCONUS travel, review

requirements to qualify for

exemption from quarantine.

Check specifications with all airline

and lodging locations prior to

departure.

Tis the season of families on the move!

Whether it be a PCS move or a transition out the military, preparation is key!

Your EFMP Family Case Worker can be an invaluable resource in preparing for your move. Both the losing

and gaining installations collaborate for a seamless transfer for your family. If you are expecting orders

(or already have them), it is vital to ensure that the information on-record with EFMP is current and

accurate, so that HQMC EFMP can screen for needed services.

PCS Workshop

Many of your questions can be answered at the PCS Workshop. The workshop is designed for those leaving

Hawaii. This class will explain the departure process, share tips to save time and money, and provide

resources and tools to create a moving plan suitable to individuals and families. Both Sponsors and Spouses

are encouraged to attend. The PCS workshop is virtual, and is offered twice a month during PCS season.

You DO NOT need orders to attend, and attendance is recommended at least 4 months prior to PCSing.

Interview Skills Workshop

Military Spouses– Are you prepared for your next interview? Be prepared for your next job at

your new location. We invite spouses to check out Interview Skills Workshop and get prepared for

the big day! Discover research techniques, best practices before the interview, how to respond

tactfully to common interview questions, proper etiquette, and how to follow-up. Be prepared and

feel confident to ace your next interview! There are is also a class on Civilian Resume Writing.

Register online for the PCS Workshop, Interview Skills Workshop and more, at

http://mccshawaii.com/TRPworkshops

Can’t find the information you’re looking for with a call or click? If you are unsure who to contact,

please reach out to our installation Information & Referral Specialist at 808-257-7786. Utilizing the

I&R Specialist is an efficient way to find information and services.

Military OneSource is another resource to assist families before, during and after a move as you

settle into your new community. This resource is available to you 24/7 by visiting their website at

http://www.militaryonesource.mil or by calling 1-800-342-9647 to speak with a consultant.

Build a custom PCS checklist at https://planmymove.militaryonesource.mil/

Checkout EFMP’s Facebook page on

May 14 for upcoming video post on

Successful PCS Transitions!