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Through Early Steps, a child is entitled
to and will receive a multidisciplinary evaluation. This means that
at least two different types of professionals will evaluate a child.
These evaluations will help determine a child's strengths and
weaknesses, and will provide the family with some recommendations
for special services that may help their child's development.
All Early Steps eligible children are provided these four core services free of
charge:. |
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What is an Individualized
Family Support Plan?
A IFSP
is a very important document. These plans are developed by the
family in collaboration with a Service Coordinator, the
professionals who evaluate the child and those that provide services to
the child (called
the IFSP team). The plan is developed by a team at an IFSP meeting.
Parents may bring anyone they want to the meeting (ie friend, other family members, private doctor, etc). An
evaluation to determine a child's developmental status will be
conducted. This evaluation will generate recommendations for
services to promote the child's development. These services
will be provided in natural enviroments, including the family's
daily routines and activities. Any or all of these
recommendations may be accepted, or rejected. The family may request other
types of services that were not recommended. In this plan, the
family will identify areas of concern, including things that they
would like their child to be able to do, what the child's
strong points are, and what the child needs to assist his/her
development. It is recommended that the family review concerns
before this appointment, and make notes to bring and discuss at the
IFSP
meeting.
For
local information and clinic locations, see the "Contact Us" page of this
website.
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