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Early On® Process for Families
Individualized Family Service Plan
What does IFSP really mean?
The term, IFSP, is used frequently throughout a child and family’s journey with Early On. It is important to remember the meaning behind this acronym which plays such a vital role for children and families.
Individualized The plan is developed specifically for the unique child and family. Their strengths, needs, concerns, priorities, and resources are unlike any other family’s, so their plan will be original and unlike any other.
Family The IFSP addresses the changing circumstances and development of the whole family, including the child.
Service For Early On, services make up the system of early intervention which supports the development of eligible children and families.
Early On is not a traditional program of service but a system which includes traditional early intervention services as well as natural supports, such as community programs available to children through the local YMCA, municipal parks and recreation programs, Gymboree, and so on.
Plan The plan is an ever changing road map which addresses current conditions for families. It is created by families and providers to guide them toward families’ goals which will support the development of their child.
The family’s IFSP is only a part of the larger individualized family service planning process. This collaborative and family-centered process begins with the family’s first contact with Early On and continues throughout the period of the child’s eligibility for Early On. The process is guided by a family-directed assessment of their concerns, priorities, and resources, a multidisciplinary evaluation of the child’s developmental status, and a multidisciplinary assessment of the unique strengths and needs of the child. When the initial evaluation and assessment are complete, a written IFSP is developed.
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One of the things I like about our IFSP is that it is a plan which can change. Also, it feels like the IFSP belongs to our family and not to the providers working with us. I like that. -Mother of a 15-month-old |
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The IFSP is reviewed at least every six months and revised each year. Download the IFSP form.
According to IDEA, the IFSP shall be in writing and contain statements of:
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the child’s present levels of physical development (including fine and gross motor, vision and hearing), cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, and adaptive development; |
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the family’s resources, priorities, and concerns relating to enhancing the development of the child with a disability; |
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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; |
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specific early intervention services necessary to meet the unique needs of the child and the family, including the frequency, intensity, and the method of delivery; |
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the natural environments in which services will be provided, including justification of the extent, if any, to which the services will not be provided in a natural environment; |
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the projected dates for initiation of services and their anticipated duration; |
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the name of the service coordinator who will be responsible for implementing the plan and coordinating with other agencies and persons; and steps to support the child’s transition to preschool or other appropriate services. |
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The steps to support the child's transition to preschool services under Part B of IDEA or other appropriate services |
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