The Individualized Family Service Plan should contain the following:
1. the child's present levels of development
2. the family's resources, priorities, and concerns
3. the goals the family needs to reach with the child, how much time it will take to reach them, and how the progress will be measured
4. what specific services are needed for the child and the family, how much is needed, how often they’re needed, and how they will be given is also noted
5. the places that the services will be given
6. the dates and duration of services
7. the names of the people in charge of giving service
8. an outline of how the child will move onto to preschool or other services
9. how the services are going to be paid for. A family can be charged but if that is the case it has to be noted
10. any other service needs of the child, for example, special dietary needs, allergies, equipment needed.
We have already discussed the first area. Family resources, priorities and concerns are an area parents should have particular input. In discussing her priorities with one mother of a child with a severe disability, she had this to say,
"The most important thing to me is that he learns to walk. He is getting heavier and I am getting older. I'm a single mother and now that my older son has moved out it is hard for me or my daughter to carry him. I am really afraid that if he doesn't learn to walk I may have to put him in a home. I don't want that to happen. If he could just learn to walk and to get in and out of the bathtub by himself, that is the most important thing to me."
Another mother said,
"Toilet training! I have been changing diapers for three years and, well, just let me say that I think that is going to be the most important for everything, for being accepted at preschool, for not having problems when he gets into school."
Whatever is most important to your family, make sure that is included in the IFSP.
Next: IFSP tips from an experienced parent