Understanding Your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

Understanding Your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

 In Special Needs Preschooler
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Written by Lior Zaltzman

Are you worried your infant or toddler may be dealing with any developmental delays or a disability? You may qualify for early intervention support and services, likely to take place right in your home.

You will need an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for your child to receive intervention services (EI). But what is that, exactly? And how is it different from an IEP? And why are there so many acronyms to remember?!

We know it’s a lot, but we’re here to help. In this post, we’re going to break down precisely what an IFSP is, and how it enables you to get the intervention and support you need. This information, which is taken from the New York Government website, the Special Education Guide and Family Connect, is different in every state, and what we’re providing here is specific to New York state. 

What an IFSP?

The individualized family service plan is a written document that outlines the early intervention (EI) services your family needs. The document addresses the type of therapy your child needs, what the therapy schedule will be, and what your goals or outcomes will be for the therapy, among other things. 

What is the difference between an IEP and IFSP?

An IFSP provides early intervention for babies and toddlers ages 0-3 as part of the EIP (Early Intervention program,) while an IEP or an Individualized Education Program includes help for children and young adults from ages 3 to 21. 

IFSP puts a focus on supporting family members to strengthen the development of their child. An IEP focuses on the educational needs of the child. 

How can you get an IFSP?

Before you get an IFSP, you need to be referred for early intervention. Usually, your child’s physician will be the one giving your that referral, either due to a disability or a developmental delay.

You can also refer your child to the EIP in the county where you live (find your county contacts here).

You can also call the “Growing Up Healthy” 24-hour Hotline at 1-800-522-500 (or dial 311 in NYC.) 

You will then be assigned an ISC — an initial Initial Service Coordinator — who will answer your questions about any possible early intervention and help you pick and evaluator and schedule an evaluation to determine your child’s eligibility for EI. 

If your child is determined to be eligible, the ISC will help walk you through what to expect at the IFSP and schedule it. 

How is my child’s eligibility for IFSP determined? 

The eligibility for an IFSP is determined at a Multidisciplinary Evaluation (MDE). At the MDE, a team of experts from different disciplines will evaluate your child’s development. The five areas of development that will be looked at are: 

  • cognitive (learning and thinking)
  • physical (growth, vision, and hearing, gross and fine motor abilities)
  •  communication (understanding and using words)
  • social-emotional (relating to others)
  • adaptive (self-help skills, such as feeding)

The MDE will include:

  • A health assessment, including vision and hearing screening (your child’s doctor can do this part, or if you’ve had a recent checkup, you can use the records from that visit.)
  • With your consent, a review of any of your child’s previous health records
  • An assessment of your child’s strengths and needs in the development areas mentioned above.
  • An interview with you about your concerns when it comes to your child’s development and health. You will also be asked about what your child is like.
  • If your child’s EI takes place outside your home, you will discuss your child’s transportation needs for those meetings.

The evaluation team will talk with you about whether your child meets the IFSP criteria for having a developmental delay, or a physical or mental condition. They will let you know if they are eligible for EIP (Early Intervention Program.)

What happens if my child is not eligible for IFSP?

If you believe the decision is wrong, you can appeal it. If not, your ISP can help you find other ways to get the help your child needs. 

When does the IFSP need to be created?

The IFSP needs to be drafted within 30 days of receiving eligibility. The IFSP also needs to be reevaluated every six months. 

Who participates in creating the IFSP?

  • You
  • Your ISC (if you want them to)
  • Anyone your ISC may wish to invite to the IFSP (if you consent to their presence)
  • The Early Intervention Official (EIO) in your county
  • An evaluation team
  • You can also invite other people who are involved in your child’s childcare, like family and babysitters. 
  • You can also choose someone to be a family advocate and participate in the IFSP meeting.

How do I prepare for an IFSP meeting?

You will talk with your ISC (Initial service coordinator), who will help you prepare for the meeting. You can also choose to participate in a family assessment meeting as part of the MDE, which will help you assess your family’s needs as far as IE and other services.

What happens at the IFSP meeting?

At the IFSP meeting, you will review all the information about your child that was discussed at the MDE.

You and all those attending will discuss your family’s resources, priorities, and concerns when it comes to your child’s developmental needs. 

You will talk about outcomes — goals for improvements — for your child’s development. You will discuss what strategies and services will help you reach those outcomes and put together a plan for implementing them. 

You will also talk about any temporary caregiving services or Respite services that may be needed for your child. 

Everyone at the IFSP meeting needs to agree on the service plan. Declining any EI services will not impact your child’s right to receive other EI services in the IFSP.  

What does the IFSP document include?

  • The IFSP needs to include the names of those involved in drafting it. 
  • It must include your child’s current level of development in different areas, and whether you’re dealing with disability or social or developmental delays, the IFSP will address the following areas of your child’s development:
    • Physical development
    • Cognitive development
    • Communication development
    • Social and emotional development
    • Adaptive development
    • Fine and gross motor skills
    • Vision
    • Hearing
    • Overall health
  • The IFSP will include your family situation, what your current resources, priorities, and challenges are. 
  • The IFSP will include services and therapy plans. For example, if your child has speech delays, the IFSP might determine that your child needs to meet with a speech pathologist twice a week for an hour. The IFSP will also include any transportation services you might need.
  • The IFSP will include expected goals or outcomes for the therapy. The outcomes should be based on your family’s and your child’s needs.
  • Your IFSP will include a plan of what to do if your child is in daycare, and if needed, a plan for how to help train your daycare team on how to best approach your child’s needs. 
  • Your IFSP will include your designated Ongoing Service Coordinator (OSC) 
  • The IFSP will provide a transition plan for your child. All children need to leave the EIP bt age 3. Depending on your child’s needs, they may no longer need intervention services, or they will need other services like preschool special education services.
  • The IFSP will include the natural environments your child’s EI will take place in. According to the New York Department of Health,‘ natural environment’ means settings where infants and toddlers are typically found in the community. This can be your home or another community location, such as daycare or at a playground.”

What happens after the IFSP meeting?

You will go through and implement the plan in your IFSP. Your Ongoing Service Coordinator (OSC) will help you with scheduling, health insurance issues, and any family needs you may have. They will help you with bi-yearly and yearly reviews of IFSP, any changes that need to be made to the IFSP. Most importantly, how to transition out of EIP and into any further services you may need. 

We hope this post answers some of the most pressing questions parents of special needs children may have. Books and Rattles, Inc. provides special needs services at all of our preschools. Our mission is to help preschool-aged children at all developmental levels. We are here to help your child grow and thrive. 

 

sources:  New York Government, The Special Education Guide,  Family Connect

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