Caring for school aged children of military

  • Published
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Goodfellow offers several youth and family oriented resources and programs designed to ensure that all school-age children of military members are in an environment where they can excel academically regardless of medical, developmental, intellectual or mental health conditions. The School Liaison Officer and Exceptional Family Member Program specialist, or SLO/EFMP, oversees and administers these programs.

The EFMP ensures support services are available to meet the special needs of family members, adult or child, of active duty service members who have physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorders and require special treatment, therapy, training or counseling.

Both the EFMP and SLO programs help ensure school-age children succeed academically by partnering with local school systems whether they are public, private, charter or homeschools. They advocate for military families for all learning-related issues and special needs requirements. The programs ensure the most accurate and up-to-date educational information, including local support networks, resources and services available for exceptional family members. They also help with enrollment forms, referring gifted children to appropriate programs and advising parents in supporting their children through academic challenges.

Debra L. Scougall is the new Goodfellow AFB Airman SLO/EFMP. She is in charge of both programs and is the point of contact for all educational concerns.

At local school board meetings, the SLO/EFMP specialist represents Goodfellow and educates school administrators on the military life style and its impact on a child's ability to learn. Additional responsibilities include keeping the command abreast of the latest academic trends, programs and policies, and making recommendations in the best interest of our military community.

Scougall holds a master's degree in psychology and has both professional and personal experience with military children and their unique educational circumstances. Prior to arriving at Goodfellow, she spent three years as a work and family life consultant providing relocation assistance to military families arriving at Navy Region Singapore. Mrs. Scougall has two school age children and knows it is not unusual that they have attended seven different schools in three countries over the past fourteen years.

"I am eager to serve both our military community and the local area through coordinating and partnering in educational services," said Scougall. "My priority as SLO/EFMP is to ease the transition of military children, especially those with special needs, into their new schools and to continually ensure that they have a valuable educational experience throughout their time in our Goodfellow AFB community. "

The School Liaison and Exceptional Family Member Program Office is located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 171 Valiant St. Bldg 145.

For more information, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 325-654-3893.