Step 4: IFSP Meeting
When a child has met eligibility requirements, an IFSP is made for the child and the family.
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan that is developed for each eligible infant and toddler with a disability. The Part C regulations specify, at 34 CFR §§303.342 - 303.345, the procedures that State Lead Agencies and early intervention service providers must follow to develop, review, and revise an IFSP for each child. The document below sets out the IFSP content that those regulations require.
Your family's IFSP will include the following information:
When a child has met eligibility requirements, an IFSP is made for the child and the family.
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan that is developed for each eligible infant and toddler with a disability. The Part C regulations specify, at 34 CFR §§303.342 - 303.345, the procedures that State Lead Agencies and early intervention service providers must follow to develop, review, and revise an IFSP for each child. The document below sets out the IFSP content that those regulations require.
Your family's IFSP will include the following information:
- A statement of your child's present level of functioning.
- With your permission, a statement of your family's resources, priorities, and concerns related to your child's development.
- A statement of the major outcomes expected from early intervention services.
- A statement of the early intervention services, including transportation, needed to meet your child's and family's needs.
- A statement of the natural environments where early intervention services will be provided. "Natural environments" means settings where infants and toddlers are typically found in the community.
- A plan for when your child is in day care, and when needed, for early intervention service providers to train the day care staff to meet the needs of your child.
- A physician's or nurse practitioner's order for early intervention services that require an order from specific medical professionals.
- A statement about other services, including medical services, that are needed by your child and family that are not provided by the Early Intervention Program.
- The projected dates that services will begin, as soon as possible after the IFSP meeting, and the period of time during which the services will be delivered.
- The name of the ongoing service coordinator.
- If your child is turning three, the steps to help your child and family
change to other services, including preschool special education
services.
I-F-S-P means...
Family-centered!
If your child is eligible for the Early Intervention Program, the next step is to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Your IFSP must be completed within 45 days after your child's referral to the Early Intervention Official, unless YOU "stop the clock" (for example, if your child is sick and the evaluation must be delayed). The IFSP is the written plan for the early intervention services your child and family will receive. You will work on this plan at an IFSP meeting.
Your initial service coordinator will set up the meeting to work on your IFSP. Your initial service coordinator will tell you what happens at the IFSP meeting and help you prepare. Some facts you need to know are:
Before the meeting, your initial service coordinator will make sure you understand your child's evaluation. She or he will also talk with you about the possibilities for early intervention services.
Here are some suggestions for what to think about when planning for your IFSP
meeting, and things you may want to talk about with your initial service
coordinator:
Strategies for a successful IFSP meeting
Some families have said the IFSP is hard work! It is very important for you
to take an active part in the meeting. This is the BEST way to the BEST plan for
you and your family.
At the IFSP meeting
Working on the IFSP is a team effort! You, your service coordinator, your child's evaluators, your Early Intervention Official, and others who take part will:
You have the right to say yes or no to any of the services talked about at your IFSP meeting. To include a service in your IFSP, you and your Early Intervention Official (or Early Intervention Official designee) must agree to the service. Others can give their opinion – but you and the Early Intervention Official have the final decision.
If you and the Early Intervention Official disagree about an early intervention service you think your child needs, you can ask for a mediation and/or impartial hearing to settle your differences. In the meantime, the early intervention services you and your Early Intervention Official do agree on will be provided.
You will be asked to sign your IFSP when the plan is finished. Participating in the Early Intervention Program is voluntary. When you sign the IFSP, you show that you were at the IFSP meeting and that you agree to the services in the plan. You are also giving your permission to start early intervention services.
The IFSP is an important document! If you need extra time to think about the plan, ask for it. You may want to discuss the plan with other family members or review it to make sure it meets the needs of your child and family.
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0532/step4.htm
- Individualized...the plan will be specially designed for
you, your child, and your family. - Family...the plan will focus on your family and the
outcomes you hope to reach for your baby or toddler and your family through
early intervention. - Service...the plan will include all the details about the
early intervention services your child and family will participate in –
including when, where, and how often services will be delivered. Your IFSP can
also include other services that your child and family needs that will not be
paid for by the Early Intervention Program. - Plan..the plan is a written plan for early intervention
services.
Family-centered!
If your child is eligible for the Early Intervention Program, the next step is to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Your IFSP must be completed within 45 days after your child's referral to the Early Intervention Official, unless YOU "stop the clock" (for example, if your child is sick and the evaluation must be delayed). The IFSP is the written plan for the early intervention services your child and family will receive. You will work on this plan at an IFSP meeting.
Your initial service coordinator will set up the meeting to work on your IFSP. Your initial service coordinator will tell you what happens at the IFSP meeting and help you prepare. Some facts you need to know are:
- The IFSP meeting must be held at a time and place that is good for you and
your family. - You, your initial service coordinator, your Early Intervention Official, and
evaluation team – or selected member of the team – must take part in
the meeting. Your Early Intervention Official may send someone else to represent
him or her (an Early Intervention Official "designee"). The Early Intervention
Official may also ask your service coordinator to act as "designee." - You can invite others to be at the IFSP meeting – family, friends, your
babysitter, or child care provider. - Your service coordinator can invite others to take part in the meeting, with
your permission. - You can ask an advocate to take part in the meeting.
- You need to give permission to use any information from your family
assessment, if you had one. - You will be asked to select an ongoing service coordinator at the
meeting. - The meeting will be held in the language you speak, unless it is clearly
impossible to do so.
Before the meeting, your initial service coordinator will make sure you understand your child's evaluation. She or he will also talk with you about the possibilities for early intervention services.
Here are some suggestions for what to think about when planning for your IFSP
meeting, and things you may want to talk about with your initial service
coordinator:
- How would you describe your child to others?
- What is working well for you at home?
- What do you need help with?
- What help do you want for your child?
- What do you need more information about?
- What places or activities in your community could early intervention help
your child take part in?
Strategies for a successful IFSP meeting
Some families have said the IFSP is hard work! It is very important for you
to take an active part in the meeting. This is the BEST way to the BEST plan for
you and your family.
- Think about – and make plans for – someone to help you if your baby or
toddler and/or other children will be at the meeting. Even if your meeting is at home, children can be distracting! - Plan to start on time.
- Be prepared. Make a list of questions or matters you want to discuss. Have
paper and a pen or pencil ready to take notes. - Listen to what other team members have to say.
- Be clear about what you want.
- Ask questions when you don't understand something.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help!
At the IFSP meeting
Working on the IFSP is a team effort! You, your service coordinator, your child's evaluators, your Early Intervention Official, and others who take part will:
- Review all the information that has been gathered about your child.
- Talk about your family's resources, priorities, and concerns.
- Develop the outcomes - or goals - expected for your child and family from
early intervention services. - Work on strategies, activities, and services that will lead to the outcomes
you hope to reach. - Agree to the measures and timelines that will be used to look at the
progress your child and family are making.
You have the right to say yes or no to any of the services talked about at your IFSP meeting. To include a service in your IFSP, you and your Early Intervention Official (or Early Intervention Official designee) must agree to the service. Others can give their opinion – but you and the Early Intervention Official have the final decision.
If you and the Early Intervention Official disagree about an early intervention service you think your child needs, you can ask for a mediation and/or impartial hearing to settle your differences. In the meantime, the early intervention services you and your Early Intervention Official do agree on will be provided.
You will be asked to sign your IFSP when the plan is finished. Participating in the Early Intervention Program is voluntary. When you sign the IFSP, you show that you were at the IFSP meeting and that you agree to the services in the plan. You are also giving your permission to start early intervention services.
The IFSP is an important document! If you need extra time to think about the plan, ask for it. You may want to discuss the plan with other family members or review it to make sure it meets the needs of your child and family.
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0532/step4.htm