In the world of special education, abbreviations abound. You might schedule an IEP for your ADHD child after EI and obtain OT services in compliance with IDEA, for example. It’s a special needs alphabet soup. I remember as a young mother of a child with a disability, that I often became confused by it all. IFSP is a term most every parent of a special needs child will have to become familiar with.
IFSP stands for Individualized Family Service Plan.
What is it?
The typical scenario is that a doctor will first diagnose your infant or toddler with a developmental delay of either known or unknown causes. This doctor will determine that your child appears to need intervention in one of the following areas: physical, speech and language, cognitive, social, emotional, or adaptive functioning. Once this determination has been made, your child automatically becomes eligible for state intervention services. Through a series of referrals from either your doctor or an intake coordinator, your state should assign your family a service coordinator. This is usually a caring individual who comes to your home and becomes acquainted with you, your family, and your special child. Since having a child with a delay or disability affects everyone in the family, the service coordinator tries to determine what help your family needs as a whole.
I remember my family’s service coordinator. She was very motivated and somewhat pushy, which in retrospect I really needed. I was still struggling with my son’s diagnosis and didn’t want to move forward or accept this new reality. The service coordinator knew what steps I needed to take and gently moved me along the path. I’m very grateful to her.
The service coordinator will write up a plan, called the Individualized Family Service Plan, with your family’s particular needs in mind. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), families with developmentally delayed children are entitled to certain kinds of assistance, including:
- A complete and thorough assessment of the child’s areas of weakness and unique needs in order to pursue intervention services to address those problems.
- A complete and thorough assessment of the family’s specific needs so that available resources can be recommended.
- A complete plan (Individualized Family Service Plan – IFSP) written up which will outline the family’s needs, what services they should receive, and how the disabled child should be transitioned into any intervention or special education programs. Typically, the plan should identify the service coordinator, the child’s needs, the family’s needs, what services will be provided and for how long, and the outcomes expected from these services.
It’s important to note that the IFSP may differ from state to state, along with the services provided, eligibility guidelines, and costs (if any), etc. Once you are assigned a service coordinator, you should find out the specific rules and resources in your state.
Your IFSP should be reviewed every six months, and evaluated (or revised) annually. The service coordinator should plan meetings with you and the school district, and get the ball rolling for IEPs. An IEP or IFSP must be implemented for all children with developmental delays by their third birthdays, according to IDEA 2004.
Got that? Good. Better swallow that bite of soup, because you’re bound to get another spoonful of letters soon.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.