Education Special Education Birth-Kindergarten

Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)

What?
An IFSP is a plan for children ages birth to three with developmental delays, or children who have been diagnosed with a physical or mental What happens when my condition that will likely result in a developmental delay, who need early child turns three? intervention services. An IFSP encompasses professionals from several disciplines including education, health, and human services. The School districts often services offered through the IFSP are often provided in the childs extend a childs IFSP past home. A Service Coordinator is assigned to each family to assist with age two, using it as an Individualized Education the IFSP process. The Service Coordinator then arranges a meeting Program (IEP). Local between the family and the professionals to talk about the familys school districts then take concerns, as well as outline each agencys role and financial management of the responsibility. Family is key in an IFSP because the plan outlines the childs IEP. Services are needs of the entire family. These needs can include things like respite typically provided in the and training. The IFSP should include the concerns, issues, and goals school setting after the of the entire family. child turns three. If you

Who?
Children ages birth to three who qualify for special education early intervention services.

still want to have a plan with an interagency approach, one option is an Interagency Plan.

How?
To explore qualification criteria, contact your local school district or Help Me Grow program office. Contacting the school district or Help Me Grow program office requires them to set up an interagency IFSP meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss your childs needs and determine how the agencies can work together to best accommodate those needs. The school, public health, social services and parents should all be represented at this meeting.

It was so helpful to have the occupational therapist come to my home twice a month. She showed me things to do with my toddler to work on her developmental delays. -Rachel, parent

Where?
For more information: Visit MN Department of Education website. Visit the Help Me Grow website.