DOCUMENT RESUME ED 361 962 EC 302 432 AUTHOR Cash, Judy A.; And Others TITLE Understanding the Individualized Family Service Plan: A Resource for Families. INSTITUTION Williamsburg Area Child Development Resources, Inc., Lightfoot, VA. SPONS AGENCY Spccial Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC. Handicapped Children's Early Education Program. .PUB DATE 91 CONTRACT H024C80012 NOTE 56p. AVAILABLE FROM Child Development Resources, Training Center, P.O. Box 299, Lightfoot, VA 23090-0299 ($15 each; 1-25 copies, $9.95 each). PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 P!'ls Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Disabilities; Early Childhood Education; *Early Intervention; *Individualized Programs; Meetings; *Parent Participation; *Planning; *Program Development; Resources; Teamwork IDENTIFIERS *Individualized Family Service Plans ABSTRACT This guide is designed to help parents make important decisions in the development of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which outlines the partnership between the family with a special needs child and the practitioners who provide early intervention services. The guide begins with a definition of in IFSP, followed by discussions of: the contents of an IFSP; sharing of information about the child and about the family's strengths and needs; the IFSP planning meeting; and changing the IFSP. A sample IFSP format is provided. The guide concludes with a list of organizational resources for parents, including a national information center, regional parent training and information centers, and statewide parent information centers. (Contains 20 references.) (JDD) ******************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. * *********************************************************************** CHILD DEVELOPMENT 41. RESOURCES MUMNTIMINT OP ICUCAT1001 00oe et EducebettM Reeterc and Aplevernter4 EDUCATIONAL IKSOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERCI goteUe doeueteM Ms Wm reproduced se MOWS. from Pie pence or ordentialion orMineWc tt. 7t*,... 0 Minot themes have been mad to mprove INWOduCIONI *NW ) Pante el velvet Gowns Meted at Meadow- mem do not necemerly retuelant effical OEM poethon et pocy. SVP,Ir ".:-...% understanding . the individualized ;, family service plan r<4), BEST COPY AVAILABLE Author: Judy A. Cash with: Corinne W Garland Sheri Osborne PUBLISHED IN 1991 11111. number H024C80012 Support for this project is provided by grant Education Program, U.S. from the Handicapped Children's Early opinions do not, Department of Education. Points of view or opinions of the however, necessarily represent official views or Depai tment of Education. "UNDERSTANDING THE INDIVBDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN A Resource for Families Author: Judy A. Cash With: Corinne W. Garland Sheri Osborne (I. Acknowledgements The authors would ifice to thank the staff and of Child Development Resources families (CDR) in Lightfoot, Virginia for their assistance Their suggestions and with project. tlils feedback provided a valuable perspective and were a significant contribution to the quality of tMs manual. TABLE OF .CONTENTS FOREWORD: PAGE 1 PART I: INTRODUCTION PART II: CONTENTS OF THE IFSP PART ifi: SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD PART IV- SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S STRENGTHS AND NEEDS PART V- THE IFSP PLANNING MEETING PART VI- OTHER PARTS OF THE IFSP PART VII- CHANGING THE IFSP PART VIII: SAMPLE IFSP PART IX- INDEX PART X: REFERENCES PART XI- RESOURCES FOR PARENTS 6 FOREWORD If the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is one of the most exciting and challenging aspects of services for young children with special needs and their families, it is also one of the most important. The IFSP is written proof of the partnership between families and professionals. This partnership is needed if we are to provide the best possible services to your child and family. Of course, this partnership will take time. It will also mean some hard work on the part of your family and the people who work with you. But that work should help you be sure that early intervention services are high in quality and meet the needs of your child and family. You, and the rest of your family, are the most important people in your child's life. The United States Congress recognized this when they passed Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (lDEA). This is the law which encourages states to provide services for all infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. The law requires that families have the chance to participate in these services and to make decisions about the kinds of services they would like for their child and family. Your chance to make decisions comes in the lFSP planning process. The information in this manual may help you to make It is some important decisions. designed to help you understand the IFSP: what it is and how it is developed. The manual is set up to answer some of the questions parents most often ask about the IFSP. It may also cause you to think of other questions. We encourage you to discuss those questions with other family members, with the professionals who are working with you and your child, and with other parents. This is one of the best ways to be sure that the services your child receives are really the ones that meet his or her needs and the needs of your family. The pages on the left side of the manual have been left blank. Feel free to use these pages to keep track of your questions or other notes as you move through the lFSP process. In addition to the sections of the manual which relate to the IFSP, there are two other parts which may be helpful to you. One is the Index to Terms. Throughout this booklet, and in conversations with other people who work with your child, you may come across words or phrases that are new or unfamiliar to you. Within this manual, any words or phrases written in boldface type are listed in this section and they are explained for you on the page numbers specified. In addition, the References and Resources sections list books and articles you may wish to read, as well as people who might be helpful to you at the state, regional, or federal level. Providing services to young children with special needs and their families is a challenge your state has chosen to accept. Being the parent of a child with special needs is a very different challenge. But, with shared trust and respect, parents and professionals can work together to make the challenges more manageable. 1 PART I INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 4 What is an IFSP? A. The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan designe4 especiallk- for your child and family. The purpose of the IFSP is to help you put mntp words those things that you most want to see happen for your child and your fam'ilyn ofdeli to help your child grow and develop. The IFSP is a "promise to families rotnise that your strengths will be recognized and built et in a on, that your needs Wilt 1?:': way that is respectful of your beliefs and values, and that your hopes:B.1440 mi will , , be encouraged..." (Johnson, McGonigel, and Kaufmann, 1989). B. Why does our child/family need an IFSP? The IFSP is one part of your state's system for providing services to young children with special needs and their families. Any child with special needs, ftrom birth to the age of three, must have a written IFSP in order to receive early intervention:seiyices. A written plan ensures that parents and professionals have decidecittogether on the f goals for early intervention services and on the services to be provided. The IFSP should ensure that your child and family receive the services you peed to be able to encourage your child's growth and development. k What can an IFSP do for C. , our child/family9 ; The IFSP is a way to help you organize the services your chil4 m need and the resources that are available for you. Some of these resources ma lie within your own family or neighbarhood. For others, you may need help fro0a prbfessional. The IFSP outlines services to be provided and specifies responsibilities. . 1.4 2 PART II CONTENTS OF THE IFSP