The Jacksonville Beaches (Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach) and Mayport share the ocean, a large Navy community and a lot of water. Families here face two questions other Jacksonville families may not: how TRICARE and the Navy's family programs fit with ABA, and how to keep an autistic child safe near the surf. This guide compares the pieces, then lists the local offices with addresses and phone numbers from each agency's own page in October 2026. Confirm before you go.
How do Mayport Navy families get ABA through TRICARE?
TRICARE covers ABA through the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration (ACD). Florida is in the TRICARE East Region, where the contractor is Humana Military. TRICARE's ACD page says:
- Coverage is for qualifying family members of active duty service members, retirees and certain National Guard and Reserve members, enrolled in a TRICARE plan and diagnosed with autism by an approved provider.
- Active duty families must enroll the child in their service branch's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), and the child must also enroll in the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO).
- Your child needs a referral to the ACD and pre-authorization for all ABA. Each authorization covers six months, and a new referral from the diagnosing provider is needed every two years.
- There are no yearly or lifetime caps on ABA, but copayments or cost-shares still apply.
- The ACD is currently authorized through December 31, 2028.
Hope Center for Behavior Change works with TRICARE East (Humana Military). See our TRICARE ABA page, our military families page, the Autism Care Demonstration guide and TRICARE ABA referral steps.
Where do Mayport families get EFMP help?
The Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Station Mayport is at Bldg. 1, Massey Avenue, Mayport, FL 32228. Main phone: 904-270-6600. Military OneSource lists hours of Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To enroll or ask about a family member with special needs, Military OneSource says to contact the center at that number. Read our EFMP in Florida guide and ABA for NAS Jacksonville and Mayport families.
Who does what for a Mayport military family?
| Support | What it does | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| EFMP (Navy) | Required enrollment for active duty families with an autistic child; the center explains how to enroll | Mayport Fleet and Family Support Center, 904-270-6600 |
| TRICARE ACD | Pays for ABA with a referral and six-month authorizations | TRICARE East (Humana Military); your primary care manager for the referral |
| ECHO | A TRICARE program your child must also join for ABA under the ACD when the sponsor is on active duty | TRICARE East. See TRICARE ECHO |
| Early Steps (under 3) | Free early intervention, mostly at home | Northeastern Early Steps, (904) 427-7600 |
| FDLRS Crown (3 to 5) | Free Child Find screening | 904-346-4601 |
| Duval County Public Schools | ESE evaluation and IEP | Your child's school ESE contact; see school liaison officers |
| CARD Jacksonville | Free consultation and training | (904) 633-0760 |
If you are moving to or from Mayport, our PCS guide covers keeping ABA on track.
Does Hope Center serve the Beaches?
Yes, without an office at the Beaches. Hope Center's Jacksonville center is on the Southside at 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256, open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our Jacksonville team provides ABA to Beaches and Mayport families in homes, schools, daycares and the community, and at the center.
| Setting | Good fit when | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Routines, sleep, safety at doors and pools; a parent works shifts or a sponsor is deployed | An adult usually needs to be home |
| School or daycare | Goals show up in class; teachers and principal agree under s. 1003.572 | Needs school approval |
| Community | Practicing the beach, stores, haircuts or dental visits | Planned with the BCBA; insurer rules on settings vary |
| Belfort Parkway center | Peer and group skills in a structured room | A weekday drive inland |
We have no waitlist; services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after authorization. We also work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR and Personify Health, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. See our Jacksonville ABA page.
How do we keep our child safe near the ocean?
The Florida Department of Health says drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for Florida children ages 1 to 4, and Florida ranks 5th in the nation for drowning deaths. For an autistic child who loves water or tends to wander, plan beach trips as carefully as a pool at home.
- Swim near a staffed lifeguard station and keep an adult within arm's reach.
- Agree on a meeting spot and practice it; some children do well with a picture of it.
- Write a wandering plan before you need it. See our wandering safety plan.
- If your child goes missing, call 911 right away and check the water first.
- Look for adapted swim lessons. See swim lessons for autistic kids.
ABA can help with beach outings too. A BCBA can break a trip into small, practiced steps (walking on sand, tolerating sunscreen, staying near an adult, leaving when it is time to go) and plan community sessions to practice them, where your insurer allows. Our sensory-friendly sun protection guide has ideas for children who resist hats and sunscreen.
Beach access and adaptive programs
- Jacksonville Beach lists accessible ramps at 5th Avenue North, Beach Boulevard and 1st Street, and 6th Avenue South, and beach wheelchairs at the Lifeguard Station. Call the Lifeguard Station at 904-249-9141 or Parks and Recreation at 904-247-6236.
- Atlantic Beach lends beach wheelchairs free, first come, first served. Apply at least four days ahead; you get an access code the day before or the day of your reservation. Contact recreation@coab.us or (904) 247-5828.
- Adaptive surfing: the City of Jacksonville's Disabled Services page describes an annual Adaptive Surfing event in Jacksonville Beach hosted by Brooks Rehabilitation with the Life Rolls On Foundation, with the city providing adaptive equipment and access mats. The page does not list current dates, so call Disabled Services at (904) 255-5466 to ask.
- Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd Street, Neptune Beach, FL 32266. Jacksonville Public Library has run Sensory Friendly Storytime for ages 2 to 5 at several branches; call (904) 255-2665 to ask about dates near you.
Should we sign up for the special medical needs registry?
The City of Jacksonville's Emergency Preparedness Division keeps the registry for Duval County. Its 2025 announcement named autism among cognitive impairments that may need specialized support. Health department staff review each application, registering does not guarantee a special needs shelter, a caregiver or family member must go with the registrant, and you must re-register every year. Register at snr.flhealthresponse.com or call (904) 255-3172. Register before storm season and keep a sensory go-kit ready.
Which other offices serve Beaches families?
- CARD Jacksonville (UF College of Medicine, Jacksonville): 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32217; (904) 633-0760. Free for families.
- Northeastern Early Steps: 910 N. Jefferson St., Jacksonville, FL 32209; (904) 427-7600. Serves Duval and five nearby counties at no cost to families.
- FDLRS Crown: 1531 Winthrop St., Jacksonville, FL 32206; 904-346-4601.
- APD Northeast Region: 3631 Hodges Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32224; (386) 238-4607. See APD for military families.
For the whole county, see the Duval County guide. Ready to start? Request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.