POLICY:

  1. The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) shall be reviewed at least every six months, or more frequently if conditions warrant or upon reasonable request of the child's parent.
  2. The review may be carried out by a meeting or teleconference and must include, at a minimum, the parent or parents of the child and the Service Coordinator.
  3. Early intervention (EI) service providers shall conduct authorized assessments using a Department approved instrument as indicated on the IFSP as an ongoing process throughout the period of the child's eligibility and shall provide assessment reports to the Service Coordinator prior to IFSP updates/reviews. NOTE: The required report that is due at the six month review may be a summary of the provider's record notes if it is determined that there is not a need to administer a formal assessment tool at this time.
  4. The purpose of the review is to determine
    1. the degree to which progress toward achieving the outcomes is being made; and
    2. whether modification or revision of the outcomes, services or supports is necessary.
  5. If changes to the IFSP are recommended, the full IFSP team must be convened and a consensus reached regarding the recommended changes before they may be implemented. If no consensus is reached, the Service Coordinator will not complete a service plan prior to consultation with Department designated experts in order to establish a Department approved service plan, and shall then provide the parents with prior written notice regarding the proposed IFSP.

PROCEDURE:

  1. Request direct service reports prior to the review meeting and review the reports to determine whether changes to services are being recommended and whether the full IFSP team will need to meet.
  2. Communicate with the family to determine who should participate in the review meeting, apart from the parent(s) and the Service Coordinator and to discuss a convenient time and location to meet.
  3. Provide reasonable prior written notice to the family and other participants of this meeting.
  4. Obtain input from the family and all EI service providers regarding any progress made (or lack thereof) toward achieving the identified outcomes since the beginning of the IFSP period.
    1. Review each outcome and related service/support with the family and all EI service providers in order to determine whether the services, as provided, are facilitating the achievement of the identified outcomes.
  5. If changes are recommended to the frequency, intensity, duration or place of service of one or more EI services, review the recommendation with the family and all EI service providers in order to determine whether the recommended service change is consistent with the resources and priorities of the family, is considerate of the other services/supports being provided and is likely to achieve the intended result.
    1. If changes are requested within the first three months of an IFSP the original IFSP team must reconvene with the provider recommending the changes in attendance.
  6. Upon review, complete IFSP revisions as needed. NOTE: Refer to the Individualized Family Service Plan Form Instructions document.
    1. Using Section 3 of the IFSP, document any progress made (or lack thereof) toward achieving the identified outcome.
    2. Provide the family with written prior notice of any modifications or revisions, which would change the placement of the child or the provision of appropriate EI services, using Discontinuation of One or More Services (pdf) form letter 30.F20.
  7. Once the IFSP has been updated, print, copy and distribute the document in its entirety to the family, the EI service providers listed in the IFSP and anyone else the family has consented to receive a copy. ALWAYS distribute changes in service authorizations in this manner, taking special care to ensure that affected providers have been adequately notified of changes to their service authorizations.