What can I expect at my first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting?

Once your child’s eligibility for early intervention has been established, your child will be assigned to a service coordinator, who will contact you to schedule a meeting to draft your child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The IFSP is a document that describes your child’s needs, goals, and objectives, as well as the services and supports your child requires to achieve those goals and objectives.

Typically an IFSP meeting will be attended only by the parent(s) and the service coordinator, as well as the child, where appropriate. It is not necessary to bring anybody else with you to the IFSP meeting. If you prefer not to attend alone, you can bring an advocate, a service provider, or a family member or friend who knows your child well. The meeting can be held at the Regional Center, or the service coordinator can come to your home or another place that is convenient for you.

At the meeting, you and the service coordinator will discuss your child’s needs and goals, specific concerns you may have about your child’s development, and what services you receive from other resources. You will also discuss Regional Center–funded services that may be appropriate for your child.

For more in-depth information about your first IFSP meeting, see the article Early Intervention: Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).