Early Intervention (IFSP)

An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written document created for children under age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities and their families. It is developed collaboratively by families and a team of service providers to outline the supports and services your child and family will receive through Early Intervention.

The IFSP is more than a plan — it is a commitment. It puts your family’s priorities, concerns, and goals at the center of everything. Your child’s strengths, needs, and the natural environments where they spend time all shape what goes into the IFSP.

Your IFSP will list every service your child and family will receive — such as speech-language therapy, developmental therapy, occupational therapy, or family training. For each service, the IFSP will specify how often it occurs, how long each session lasts, where services will be delivered, and who is responsible for providing them.

The IFSP includes functional goals and outcomes written for your child and family. These outcomes describe what you hope to see your child and family achieve — not just in therapy, but in everyday life. Goals are written in plain language that reflects what matters most to your family.

Each service in the IFSP is tied to a qualified provider. The IFSP identifies who will deliver each service, their role or discipline, and their contact information. Families have the right to ask questions about their child’s providers and to request changes if needed.

Families have the right to receive all IFSP meetings, documents, and communications in their preferred language. If your family communicates in a language other than English — including ASL or another signed language — the team is required to provide qualified interpretation and translated documents at no cost to you.

You are the most important member of your child’s IFSP team. You have the right to participate fully in every IFSP meeting, to bring a support person, to ask questions, and to disagree with recommendations. The IFSP cannot be finalized without your signature, and no services can begin without your informed consent. You also have the right to have advocates assist you.

The IFSP must be reviewed at least every six months, and a full evaluation must occur annually. At each review, the team will look at your child’s progress toward outcomes, discuss whether services are still the right fit, and make changes as needed. You can also request a review at any time if your concerns or your child’s needs change.