Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

Jan 12, 2024

What is an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a nationwide law that protects the rights of children with disabilities and their families. It requires that free public education and appropriate specialized services are provided to children with disabilities, through early intervention services (up to 3 years old) and special education in school (3-21 years). IDEA also mandates that each state have a policy in place to find and evaluate children with a disability. That means that early intervention agencies and/or the school district are required to seek out children with disabilities and onboard them into appropriate programs.

One way that IDEA ensures that children under 3 years old with disabilities receive appropriate treatment is by requiring state agencies to create Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for affected children. An IFSP is a legal document that details the early intervention services that will be necessary to help a child with a developmental delay, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The IFSP addresses what services the child will receive, who will perform the services, and when the child will receive services during a 6 to 12-month period. IFSPs are centered around a family’s goals, so the needs of both the child and caregivers are considered.

The state of Georgia’s early intervention program is called Babies Can’t Wait (BCW). BCW will screen your child for a developmental delay and coordinate the creation of an IFSP. For more information on BCW, please see our article linked here.

The Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association provides a state guide to determine your early intervention agencies linked here.

How are IFSPs made?

Below, we outline the steps that are usually taken to create an IFSP:

1.Referral

An initial referral is made to the early intervention services because of concerns about a child’s development.
This referral can be made by anyone concerned about a child’s development: family members, doctors, teachers, healthcare professionals, child-protection services, shelters, and many more.
A parents’ consent is not required for a referral, but a discussion with the parent is generally encouraged.

2. Screening and Evaluation

A service coordinator will help the family coordinate a plan for evaluating the child.
Evaluations can be completed at home, in childcare, etc. . . by professionals.
If there are no delays from the parent, the initial IFSP evaluation, assessments, and meetings must be completed within 45 days from the day the agency receives the referral.

3. Develop the IFSP

Creating an IFSP is a collaborative process, that uses information from the family and professionals to create a comprehensive plan.
A few professionals included in this process may include the following:
- Physical therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Speech therapist
- Social workers
- Nutritionists
- Psychologists
- Teachers
IFSPs must specify: 1) which services a child will receive, 2) who will provide the services, 3) where the services will be performed, and 4) how often the child will receive services.
Written parental or caregiver consent of the contents of the IFSP is required. That means that a child’s caregivers must agree with the plan outlined in the IFSP for the IFSP to be valid.

4. Implementation of Services

Implementation will include early intervention services and may include other medical or behavioral services (such as physical or occupational therapy).
Services must be provided as soon as possible.

5. IFSP Review Every Six Months

The IFSP must be reviewed every 6 months (at least). The IFSP can be reviewed more frequently if necessary.
The IFSP review allows the team to assess the child’s progress and determine if any changes need to be made to the plan.

6. Transition to IEP

When your child turns three, they will transfer off of their IFSP and onto an Individualized Education Program (IEP) if they still have a qualifying disability. IEPs are similar to the IFSP, but for older children and they place an emphasis on educational services.
To begin the process of transferring your child to an IEP, *you* will need to schedule a transition meeting with your service coordinator.
The transition meeting must be held at least 90 days before the child’s 3^rd
For the smoothest transition, without interruption, the IEP should be written and signed by the child’s 3^rd

For information specifically about the Babies Can’t Wait process, refer to our article here.

What is included in an IFSP?

Information about the child’s development: What is your child’s physical, cognitive, communication, social/emotional, adaptive development

Family Information: What is the family’s main priorities, current resources, and concerns?

Results and Outcomes: What are the goals of what they hope to achieve?

Early Intervention (EI) Services

What early intervention services will be utilized?
What date will the early intervention services begin?
How will they be administered?
How long will they last?
How frequently will they be?

Other Services: When and for how long will other medical services be provided?

Service Coordinator Details: Who is the service coordinator that in charge of the EI services?

Transition of Services: What are the steps and services needed for a smooth transition for the child after they turn 3?

For more in depth details of the content of an IFSP, please visit the US government’s website here.

What are the benefits of having an IFSP?

IFSPs are beneficial for the family, child, and professionals. Some key benefits include:

IFSPs ensure support for the child is highly specific and personalized.
IFSPs are developed in a family-centered manner, allowing caregivers to be actively involved in important choices for their child’s development.
IFSP focuses significant on the importance of early intervention, which is very important for children with autism. For more information on EI, see our article here.
IFSPs make it manageable to track a child’s developmental goals and progress through the consistent meetings.
IFSPs create smooth transitions for families once their children grow older than three.
IFSPs helps professionals prioritize the family’s goals, utilize the family’s knowledge, and create a practical, holistic plan for the child.
ISFPs empower families to assume an active role in their child’s diagnosis. They also are able educate themselves and support their child in the best way possible.

IFSP vs Individualized Education Plans (IEP)

After a kid turns three-years old, their Individualized Family Service Plan (ISFP) is transitioned to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). IEPs are for children between the ages of 3-21 years old.

IEPs are similar to IFSPs, but they start to become more centered around the child’s, rather than the family, goals. Follow the link here to view a chart on the difference between IFSPs and IEPs.

From Babies Can’t Wait: https://dph.georgia.gov/document/publication/bcw-transition-3-booklet-english/download

Article by: Nicole Steel and The Autism ToolKit