MMAA joins Partners in PROMISE to combat ‘Military Special Education Crisis’

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Modern Military Association of America has joined 20 military family and veteran non-profit organisations in signing on to the “The Military Child Special Education Crisis”, a formal letter to congressional leadership drawing attention to military special education needs.

This letter contains recommendations based on data collected by Partners in PROMISE, through their 2021 Military Special Education Survey.

“We are thrilled to see that so many organizations have stepped up in support of our families,” said Michelle Norman, Executive Director of Partners in PROMISE. “Our families have been suffering in silence for a long time, but not because our leaders do not care, but rather because our Exceptional Family Member Program community is just so overwhelmed with the responsibilities of advocating and caregiving for our families. Partners in PROMISE is happy to lend a hand by simply amplifying their voices and coupling them with data-driven solutions.”

As the nation’s largest LGBTQ military and veteran non-profit, MMAA is dedicated to supporting modern military families and those within the EFMP program are no exception.

“We are proud to join forces with Partners in PROMISE on this initiative and did not hesitate to sign this very important letter,” said Jennifer Dane, MMAA Executive Director. “Many of our LGBTQ families, including families with transgender children, receive support through EFMP and we will continue our efforts to advocate on their behalf.”

Partners in PROMISE is an organization founded and run by military parents, and this letter is just one step they are taking to elevate the voices of EFMP families by creating a Coalition focused on uniting existing non-profits who are helping to advance the cause of vulnerable military families enrolled in the program due to medical and/or education concerns.

“EFMP has been divided for so long, with education on one side and the medical piece on the other,” said Jennifer Barnhill, Partners in PROMISE Chief Operating Officer. “With all the recent support for EFMP standardization across service branches we want to be ready to help educate our leaders about the collective concerns of our family members.”