What is the purpose of an IFSP?

• A. to coordinate early intervention services for the family of a child from birth to age three
• B. to determine school readiness by age five
• C. to provide medical insurance coverage for families
• D. to select curriculum for the mother's education

Answer: (A)

An IFSP, or Individualized Family Service Plan, is designed to coordinate early intervention services for very young children with developmental delays and to support their families. It covers from birth through age three and is family-centered, meaning the family’s routines, needs, and resources are part of the planning. The plan documents the child’s current development, identifies family concerns and resources, sets measurable outcomes for both the child and family, and specifies the services to be provided (such as speech, occupational, or physical therapy), who will provide them, where they’ll occur (often in the home or other natural environments), and how often. It also designates a service coordinator and includes a transition plan to preschool as the child approaches age three. The other options describe things outside the scope of IFSPs: school readiness by age five pertains to later education planning, medical insurance is not provided by an IFSP, and selecting curriculum for the mother’s education is not part of early intervention planning.