What is an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)?
An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a collaborative process involving families and staff to facilitate informed decision-making about early intervention services for children. The goal is to support the child's development while considering the family's resources, priorities, and concerns.
Key Components of an IFSP:
- Child Development Levels
- Present levels of physical, cognitive, communication, social/emotional, and adaptive development of the infant or toddler.
- Family Resources and Priorities
- Family's resources, priorities, and concerns related to enhancing the child's development.
- Expected Outcomes
- Major outcomes for the child and family, along with criteria for measuring progress. Includes any revisions to outcomes or services.
- Early Intervention Services
- Specific services required to meet the child's and family's unique needs, including frequency, intensity, and delivery methods.
- Natural Environments
- Details on where services will be provided and justification for any services not provided in natural environments.
- Service Timeline
- Start date and anticipated duration of services.
- Service Coordinator
- Identification of a service coordinator responsible for plan coordination and implementation, selected from the most relevant profession for the family’s needs.
- Transition Steps
- Steps to support the transition of the toddler with a disability to preschool or other appropriate services.
By addressing these components, the IFSP ensures comprehensive support tailored to the child's and family's needs, fostering effective early intervention.