What does an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) address?

An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is specifically designed to address the unique needs of families with young children who have disabilities. It emphasizes a family-centered approach, focusing not only on the child's needs but also on the resources, priorities, and goals of the family as a whole. The IFSP serves to identify the supports and services required to promote the development of the child within the context of the family, recognizing the critical role that family members play in the child’s growth and development.

In contrast, long-term educational goals for adolescents pertain more to Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), which are structured for older students. Teacher evaluation methods are unrelated to the family-focused framework of the IFSP. Transition plans are significant for students who are moving out of special education services but do not pertain to the IFSP, which focuses on younger children and their families. This highlights the distinctive purpose of the IFSP in supporting young children with disabilities and their families at an early stage.