Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Team

 

Your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team works together to develop a plan that supports your child's development and your family's priorities. Every member of the team has an important role, and you are an equal partner in the process.

Who is on the IFSP team?

Your IFSP team may include:

• You, the parent or caregiver.
• Your Service Coordinator.
• The Early Intervention Official (EIO) or the EIO's designee.
• The professionals who evaluated your child.
• Your Early Intervention providers, such as therapists or special instructors.
• Anyone else you would like to invite, such as a family member, friend, childcare provider, healthcare provider, or other person who knows your child well.

 

Your Role

You know your child better than anyone else.

You help the team understand your child's strengths, your family's daily routines, your concerns, your priorities, and what is most important to your family. Your ideas and goals are an important part of every decision made about your child's IFSP.

Your Service Coordinator

Your Service Coordinator is there to support you throughout your Early Intervention journey. They will:

• Explain the Early Intervention Program.
• Answer your questions.
• Help coordinate evaluations and services.
• Obtain your written consent when needed.
• Help make sure your family's concerns, priorities, and resources are reflected in your IFSP.
• Monitor your child's services and help make sure they are provided in a timely manner.

 

The Early Intervention Official (EIO)

The Early Intervention Official (EIO), or the EIO's designee, is responsible for administering the Early Intervention Program in your county and helping ensure that program requirements and timelines are met.

Your Evaluators

Your evaluators complete your child's multidisciplinary evaluation and explain the results to you. They help identify your child's strengths and needs and determine whether your child is eligible for the Early Intervention Program.

Your Early Intervention Providers

Your Early Intervention providers work with you and your child to help achieve the outcomes identified in your IFSP. They also help you learn strategies you can use during your family's everyday routines and activities to support your child's development.

Developing Your IFSP

Your IFSP is built around your child's strengths and needs and your family's concerns, priorities, and resources. If you choose to participate in a Family-Directed Assessment, the information you share can help your team develop meaningful outcomes that fit your family's daily life.

Together, you and your team will develop outcomes and decide which Early Intervention services and supports will help your child and family work toward those outcomes.

Reviewing Your IFSP

Your IFSP is reviewed regularly to make sure it continues to meet your child's and family's needs. A formal review is completed at least every six months, but your IFSP can be reviewed sooner if your child's needs change or your family requests a review.

Learn More

The Working with Your IFSP Team brochure provides helpful information about the roles and responsibilities of each member of the IFSP team and how families and professionals can work together to support children and families.

https://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/families.htm