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Policy

A meeting to develop an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be held for each child found to have a disability and in need of early childhood special education services.

Procedure

  1. Agency responsibilities (HSOLC and Early Childhood CARES) for Eligibility for Special Education services are documented in the Interagency Agreement that is updated annually.
  2. A Multi-disciplinary evaluation team determines whether child meets eligibility criteria using evaluation findings and recommendations, assessments, parent input and observations.
  3. A Multi-disciplinary team will use above information to ensure comprehensive approach to develop child’s program.
  4. The following are invited: Parents, Early Childhood CARES representative, Head Start Teacher, Regional Manager, Specialist or related service personnel serving the child, a member of the evaluation team, School District representative and other pertinent individuals as required in OARs.
    1. Parents notified in writing ten days in advance of meeting to explain purpose, attendees, time and location of meeting.
    2. Direct service teams or ECEC will make every effort to assure that parents understand the purpose and proceedings and encourage them to provide information about their child and their desires for the child’s program.
    3. Early Childhood CARES or Head Start will provide interpreters if needed and offer parents a copy of the IFSP in parent’s language.
  5. Speech/Language pathologist Early Childhood CARES Representative or Early Childhood CARES Service Coordinator will facilitate the meeting.
  6. Assign IFSP coordinator from the profession most immediately relevant to the child’s or family’s needs.
  7. Complete designated sections of the IFSP document which address strategies for achieving long term goals.
  8. Identify frequency, intensity, location, and methods (strategies) of service delivery.
  9. Discuss how the team will work together, how information will be shared, who will be included in meetings, etc.
  10. Transition planning should be included in the discussion. A plan should be written any time that the team is aware of a significant upcoming transition (see Transition Services policy)
  11. Plan for an annual review of IFSP.
  12. Encourage family to identify family strengths, interests and outcomes on IFSP Family Outcomes page.
  13. Early Childhood CARES will make  completed IFSP forms available to the ECEC. The ECEC assures that:
    1. A scanned copy goes into the child’s electronic file
    2. Relevant data is entered into ChildPlus.

This policy complies with Head Start Performance Standard 45CFR Section 1302.61, 1302.62, 1302.63
It was approved by Policy Council on April8, 1997.
Updated July 6, 1999. October 30, 2000. June 2008. October 2010. November 2012. July 2018

REVIEWED: July 2021

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