Module One: Lesson Two

Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) Content

According to Part C, a team consisting of the family, a service coordinator, and service providers involved in assessment and service delivery collaboratively develop the Individualized Family Support Plan.

The Early Steps system utilizes a team approach to service delivery. The Individualized Family Support Plan reflects the collaborative efforts of the team and defines supports and services identified to enhance a child's and family's quality of life. The team provides ongoing support and monitoring of progress toward outcomes for the child and family, and while the team works in collaborative consultation, one individual is designated as a Primary Service Provider to facilitate the family's implementation of identified strategies to achieve the outcomes in the IFSP.

The Individualized Family Support Plan must contain the following eight components, as defined in the IDEA, Part C Regulations, 34 CFR, Section 303.344.

• The child's present levels of physical development (including fine and gross motor, and vision and screening) cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, and adaptive development
• The family's resources, priorities, and concerns relating to enhancing the development of the child with a disability
• The major outcomes to be achieved for the child and the family; the criteria, procedures, and timelines used to determine progress; and whether modifications or revisions of the outcomes or services are necessary
• Specific early intervention supports and services necessary to meet the unique needs of the child and the family, including the frequency, intensity, and the method of delivery
• The natural environments in which services and supports will be provided, including justification of the extent, if any, to which the services will not be provided in a natural environment
• The projected dates for initiation of services and their anticipated duration
• The name of the service coordinator who will be responsible for implementing the plan and coordinating with other agencies and persons
• Steps to support the child's transition to other appropriate early care and education settings or other services

Additionally, the IFSP must include, to the extent appropriate, any medical, health and other services that the child needs, or the family needs, related to enhancing the development of the child, but that are not required or covered under Part C. Examples of these types of supports and services include: legal services, housing, financial supports, child care, etc. The IFSP must identify any of these services needed by the child and family and the funding sources to pay for the services or the steps to secure those services through public and private sources. Including such services provides a comprehensive picture of the child's total service needs. In addition, service coordinators will assist families, as needed, in gaining access not only to early intervention services, but also to the other services identified in the IFSP and will coordinate the provision of these services.

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