The IFSP, or Individualized Family Service Plan, is the legal plan that guides early intervention for a young child and their family. This checklist helps providers prepare for the first IFSP meeting in a way that is family-centered, legally sound, and communication-accessible. Before the meeting, it prompts you to confirm eligibility and timelines and understand the basics of the law, gather medical, hearing, and developmental records, and learn the family's daily routines, priorities, and concerns. Throughout, it reminds you to center what the family wants rather than professional assumptions. Use it to walk into that first meeting prepared and ready to listen.
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A tip sheet program leaders use to make enrollment consistent, naming the five pieces of data to capture from the start so the team can understand each family and measure progress.
A checklist providers use after the IFSP meeting to confirm the written plan is accurate, track progress in everyday routines, prepare for reviews, and start transition planning early.
A checklist families use before their first early intervention planning meeting: understanding their rights, gathering documents, and naming their child's top priorities.