The Foreign Service Journal, December 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2017 97 FROM THE JUNE 2021 FSJ EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT What’s New with Special Education Allowances? The Family Liaison Office Talks with the Office of Child and Family Programs B idding on one’s next assignment can be a daunting task for any Foreign Service family. It can be even more complex when education options in overseas settings for children with special needs are a part of that decision. The State Department’s Office of Child and Family Pro- grams (known as CFP) under the Bureau of Medical Ser- vices (MED) works together with parents and overseas MED medical staff members to ensure children’s psychological, behavioral health and special educational needs are identi- fied and appropriately assessed. The goal is to have an effec- tive treatment and education plan established in advance of and during overseas assignments. Once the need for special education services is deter- mined, families can apply for the Special Needs Education Allowance (known as SNEA). In the past, parents have faced challenges with this process; thanks to their advocacy, the department has put in place new procedures and updated guidance to improve application processing time, added staff- ing with geographical responsibilities, improved electronic reimbursement procedures and adopted a new appeals process. The Bureau of Global Talent Management’s Family Liaison Office’s education and youth team (E&Y) works closely with CFP and can assist parents in navigating the SNEA process. Recently, FLO spoke with CFP to discuss available resources, previous challenges and new procedures to better serve all FS employees under chief-of-mission authority and their families. In April, as education and youth program officer of the Family Liaison Office, I conducted a written interview with Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health Programs Charles J. Lilly, M.D., of the State Department’s Bureau of Medical Services. We discussed new staffing and procedures in support of the Special Needs Education Allowance. Charlotte Larsen joined the Family Liaison Office (now Global Community Liaison Office) as education and youth program officer in 2020. She served previously as a global employment adviser and a community liaison office coordinator in Asia and Europe and, prior to joining State, taught in international and Department of Defense schools. The complete interview appeared in the June 2021 FSJ .