What does an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) focus on?

An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is specifically designed to address the needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The primary focus of the IFSP is to outline the services and support necessary for the child's development, reflecting a family-centered approach. This means that the plan not only considers the child's specific developmental needs but also the family's strengths, resources, and concerns.

The IFSP promotes coordination among different services, such as early intervention programs, medical services, and family support services, ensuring that comprehensive support is provided in a way that truly benefits the child and the family as a whole. This emphasis on support for children with disabilities distinguishes the IFSP from other types of educational plans that might only address broader educational strategies, recreational activities, or approaches based on neuroscience without a focus on the individual child's developmental needs or the family's involvement in that process.