RESPONDING TO PEERS

Running Head: IFSP AND EARLY INTERVENTION 1

IFSP AND EARLY INTERVENTION 2

INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SERVICE PLAN AND EARLY INTERVENTIONS

An IFSP is both a document and a plan. If a child has been found to be needing of early intervention services, then an IFSP is availed (Pletcher & Younggren, 2013). IFSPs help toddlers develop to their best and maximum potential. Early intervention on the other hand means doing activities that will help enhance the development of a child, as early as possible. Early intervention can be used to correct disabilities in children. Early intervention for children can come in form of therapies, or services where parents have top visit the organizations that provide them.

In Alabama, an organization known as Alabama’s Early Intervention System avails the services of early intervention. The children who are covered are between the ages of birth to two years. The children should have a medical diagnosis that can delay normal development. The services offered by the early intervention system include teaching parents and caregivers to help children learn and participate in daily routines. It helps transition the children with difficulties into the Alabama State Department of Education’s and local school stems’ preschool programs for three to five year olds. Early interventions also help with other activities such as occupational, physical and speech-language therapies, service coordination, parent and family education and local training to local school teachers to ensure a smooth transition for infants and toddlers.

An IFSP on the other hand, takes into account the current level of a child’s functioning (Pletcher & Younggren, 2013). It also focuses on what a family needs to meet the needs of the child. For an IFSP plan to start, a parent or guardian needs to given consent, in written form. The IFSP plan includes the guardian, other family members if requested, an advocate from outside family, if requested, a service coordinator, professionals who are directly linked with evaluations for the plan and the providers of services for the plan.

Reference

Pletcher, L., & Younggren, N. (2013). The early intervention workbook: Essential practices for quality services. Baltimore, Maryland : Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.