Sec. 13a.13.01.08. Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Document

A. The IFSP shall include:

(1) A statement of the child’s present levels of physical development, including:

(a) Vision;

(b) Hearing;

(c) Health status;

(d) Cognitive development;

(e) Communication development;

(f) Social or emotional development; and

(g) Adaptive development;

(2) A statement of the family’s concerns, priorities, and resources related to enhancing the development of the child as identified through assessment, with the concurrence of the family;

(3) A statement of the measurable results or outcomes considered developmentally appropriate and expected to be achieved for the child and family, consistent with 34 CFR §303.344(c), including:

(a) Preliteracy;

(b) Numeracy;

(c) Language skills; and

(d) Criteria, procedures, and timeline used to determine:

(i) The degree to which progress toward achieving the results or outcomes identified in the IFSP is being made; and

(ii) Whether modifications or revisions of the expected results or outcomes, or early intervention services identified in the IFSP are necessary;

(4) The projected date for the initiation of each early intervention service;

(5) The anticipated duration of each service;

(6) The name of the service coordinator from the profession most relevant to the child’s or family’s needs who is responsible for:

(a) Implementing the early intervention services identified in a child’s IFSP;

(b) Transition services; and

(c) Coordination with other agencies and individuals;

(7) The steps and services to be taken to support the smooth transition of the child from EIS to:

(a) Preschool services, in accordance COMAR 13A.05.01, to the extent that those services are appropriate;

(b) The Extended IFSP Option, consistent with 34 CFR §303.209; or

(c) Other appropriate services; and

(8) The steps to support the smooth transition, including:

(a) Discussions with, and training of, parents, as appropriate, regarding future placement as other matters related to the child’s transition;

(b) Procedures to prepare the child for changes in service delivery, including steps to help the child adjust to, and function in, a new setting;

(c) Confirmation that:

(i) Child find information about the child has been transmitted to the local school system or other relevant agency, in accordance with 34 CFR §303.209(b); and

(ii) With parental consent, if required under 34 CFR §303.414, transmission of additional information needed by the local school system to ensure continuity of services from the Part C program to the Part B program, including a copy of the most recent evaluation and assessments of the child and family and most recent IFSP; and

(d) Identification of transition services and other activities that the IFSP Team determines are necessary to support the transition of the child.

B. EIS Providers. EIS providers shall:

(1) Participate in the development of an initial IFSP within 45 days from receipt of referral for an eligible child and the child's family;

(2) Implement and conduct periodic reviews and annual evaluations of a child’s IFSP consistent with 34 CFR §§303.342—303.343 and established local policies and procedures;

(3) Participate in the ongoing multidisciplinary assessment of the child and the family-directed assessment of the resources, priorities and concerns of the family, as it relates to the needs of the child in the development of integrated outcomes for the IFSP;

(4) Provide early intervention services in accordance with the IFSP of the infant or toddler with a disability; and

(5) Consult with and train parents and others regarding the provision of the early intervention services described in the IFSP of the infant or toddler with a disability.

C. IFSP Services.

(1) The IFSP shall address the needs of an infant or toddler with a disability and the needs of the family to assist appropriately in the child’s development, as identified by the IFSP team, in one or more of the following areas, including:

(a) Physical development;

(b) Cognitive development;

(c) Communication development;

(d) Social or emotional development;

(e) Adaptive development.

(2) The IFSP shall include, to the extent practicable a statement of the specific early intervention services based on peer-reviewed research that are necessary to meet the unique needs of the child and the family to achieve the results or outcomes identified in §A(3) of this regulation, including:

(a) The length, duration, frequency, intensity, and method of delivering the early intervention service, as defined in Regulation.03B of this chapter;

(b) A statement that an early intervention service is provided on a year-round basis in the natural environment of the child or service, to the maximum extent appropriate, or a justification as to why an early intervention service will not be provided in the natural environment;

(c) The determination of the appropriate setting for providing an early intervention service, including any justification for not providing a particular early intervention service in the natural environment shall be:

(i) Made by the IFSP Team;

(ii) Consistent with the provisions of 34 CFR §§303.13(a)(8), 303.26, and 303.126; and

(iii) Based on the child’s outcomes identified by the IFSP Team;

(d) The location of the early intervention services; and

(e) The agency fiscally responsible for the service.

(3) To the extent appropriate, the IFSP shall:

(a) Identify medical and other services that the child or family needs or is receiving through other sources, but that are neither required nor funded in accordance with Part C of the Act; and

(b) Include a description of the steps the service coordinator or family may take to assist the child and family in securing the services above, if those services are not currently being provided.

(4) A public agency or EIS provider who has a direct role in the provision of early intervention services is responsible for making a good faith effort to assist each eligible child in achieving the outcomes in the child’s IFSP.

(5) A public agency or EIS provider cannot be held accountable if a child does not achieve the growth projected in the child’s IFSP, consistent with 34 CFR §303.346.

(6) The local lead agency shall ensure appropriate early intervention services are based on scientifically based research and are available to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, including infants and toddlers with disabilities who are homeless and their families consistent with 34 CFR §303.112.