N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.8.11

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 8.9.8.11 - INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (IFSP)

A.IFSP development.

(1) A written IFSP shall be developed and implemented for each eligible child and family.

(2) The IFSP shall be developed at a meeting. The IFSP meeting shall:

(a) take place in a setting and at a time that is convenient to the family;

(b) be conducted in the native language of the family, or other mode of communication used by the family, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so; and

(c) meeting arrangements must be made with, and written notice provided to, the family and other participants early enough before the meeting date to ensure that they will be able to attend.

(3) Participants at the initial IFSP and annual IFSP meeting shall include:

(a) the parent(s);

(b) other family members, as requested by the parent(s) (if feasible);

(c) an advocate or person outside of the family, as requested by the parent(s);

(d) a person or persons directly involved in conducting evaluations and assessments of the child;

(e) as appropriate, a person or persons who are or will be providing early intervention services to the child and family;

(f) the family service coordinator; and

(g) other individual(s) as applicable, such as personnel from: child care; early head start; home visiting; medically fragile; children's medical services; child protective services; physician and other medical staff, and with permission of the parent(s).

(4) If a person or persons directly involved in conducting evaluations and assessments of the child is unable to attend a meeting, the family service coordinator shall make arrangements for the person's participation through other means, including: participating by telephone; having a knowledgeable authorized representative attend; or submitting a report.

(5) The initial IFSP shall be developed within 45 days of the referral.

(6) Families shall receive prior written notice of the IFSP meeting.

(7) The family service coordinator shall assist the parent(s) in preparing for the IFSP meeting and shall ensure that the parent(s) have the information that they need in order to fully participate in the meeting.

B.Contents of the IFSP: The IFSP shall include:

(1) the child's name, address, the name and address of the parent(s) or guardian, the child's birth date and, when applicable, the child's chronological age and adjusted age for prematurity (if applicable);

(2) the date of the IFSP meeting, as well as the names of all participants in the IFSP meeting;

(3) the dates of periodic and annual reviews;

(4) a summary of the child's health (including vision and hearing) and the child's present levels of development in all domains (cognitive, communication, physical/motor, social and emotional and adaptive);

(5) with the approval of the parent(s), a statement of the family's concerns, priorities and resources that relate to enhancing the development of the infant or toddler as identified through the family assessment;

(6) the desired child and family outcomes developed with the family (including but not limited to pre-literacy and numeracy, as developmentally appropriate to the child), the strategies to achieve those outcomes and the timelines, procedures and criteria to measure progress toward those outcomes;

(7) a statement of specific early intervention services based on peer-reviewed research (to the extent practicable) that are necessary to meet the unique needs of the child and family to achieve the desired outcomes, and the duration, frequency, intensity, location, and the method of delivering the early intervention services;

(8) a parental signature, which denotes prior consent to the early intervention services on the IFSP; if the parent(s) does not provide consent for a particular early intervention service, then the service(s) to which the parent(s) did consent shall be provided;

(9) specific information concerning payment sources and arrangements;

(10) the name of the ongoing family service coordinator;

(11) a statement of all other services including, medical services, child care and other early learning services being provided to the child and family that are not funded under this rule;

(12) an outcome, including strategies the family service coordinator or family shall take to assist the child and family to secure other services not funded under this rule;

(13) a statement about the natural environments in which early intervention services shall be provided; if the IFSP team determines that services cannot be satisfactorily provided or IFSP outcomes cannot be achieved in natural environments, then documentation for this determination and a statement of where services will be provided and what steps will be taken to enable early intervention services to be delivered in the natural environment must be included;

(14) the projected start dates for initiation of early intervention services and the anticipated duration of those services; and

(15) at the appropriate time, a plan including identified steps and services to be taken to ensure a smooth and effective transition from early intervention services to preschool services under IDEA Part B and other appropriate early learning services.

C.Interim IFSP.

(1) With parental consent an interim IFSP shall be developed and implemented, when an eligible child or family have an immediate need for early intervention services prior to the completion of the evaluation and assessment.

(2) The interim IFSP shall include the name of the family service coordinator, the needed early intervention services, the frequency, intensity, location and methods of delivery, and parental signature indicating consent.

(3) The use of an interim IFSP does not waive or constitute an extension of the evaluation requirements and timelines.

D.Family service coordination.

(1) Family service coordination shall be provided at no cost to the family.

(2) The parent may choose the early intervention agency that will provide ongoing family service coordination.

(3) The parent may request to change the family service coordinator, at any time.

(4) The family service coordinator shall be responsible for:

(a) informing the family about early intervention and their rights and procedural safeguards;

(b) gathering information from the family regarding their concerns, priorities and resources;

(c) coordinating the evaluation and assessment activities;

(d) facilitating the determination of the child's eligibility;

(e) referring the family to other resources and supports;

(f) helping families plan and prepare for their IFSP meeting;

(g) organizing and facilitating IFSP meetings;

(h) arranging for and coordinating all services listed on the IFSP;

(i) coordinating and monitoring the delivery of the services on the IFSP to ensure that they are provided in a timely manner;

(j) conducting follow-up activities to determine that appropriate services are being provided;

(k) assisting the family in identifying funding sources for IFSP services, including medicaid and private insurance;

(l) facilitating periodic reviews of the IFSP; and

(m) facilitating the development of the transition plan and coordinating the transition steps and activities.

(5) Family service coordination shall be available to families upon their referral to the FIT program.

(6) Family service coordination shall be listed on the IFSP for all families of eligible children.

(7) Families may direct the level of support and assistance that they need from their family service coordinator and may choose to perform some of the service coordination functions themselves.

E.Periodic review of the IFSP.

(1) A review of the IFSP for a child and child's family must be conducted every six months, or more frequently if conditions warrant, or if the family requests such a review.

(2) The parent(s), the family service coordinator, and others as appropriate, shall participate in these reviews.

(3) A review can occur at any time at the request of the parent(s) or early intervention provider agency.

(4) Participants at a periodic review meeting shall include:

(a) the parent(s);

(b) other family members, as requested by the parent(s) (if feasible);

(c) an advocate or person outside of the family, as requested by the parent(s);

(d) the family service coordinator; and

(e) persons providing early intervention services, as appropriate.

F.Annual IFSP.

(1) The family service coordinator shall convene the IFSP team on an annual basis, to review progress regarding outcomes on the IFSP and to revise outcomes, strategies or services, as appropriate to the child's and family's needs and the annual re-determination of the child's eligibility for services.

(2) Attendance at the annual IFSP meeting shall conform to the requirements of the initial IFSP meeting.

(3) The team shall develop a new IFSP for the coming year; however, information may becarried forward from the previous IFSP if the information is current and accurate.

(4) Results of current evaluations and assessments and other input from professionals and parents shall be used in determining what outcomes will be addressed for the child and family and the services to be provided to meet these outcomes.

(5) The annual IFSP process shall include a determination of the child's continuing eligibility utilizing the tool(s) approved by the FIT program.

(6) At any time when monitoring of the IFSP by the family service coordinator or any member of the IFSP team, including the family, indicates that services are not leading to intended outcomes, the team shall be reconvened to consider revision of the IFSP. The IFSP team can also be reconvened if there are significant changes to the child's or family's situation, e.g., moving to a new community, starting child care or early head start, health or medical changes, etc.

(7) If there are significant changes to the IFSP, the revised IFSP can be considered a new annual IFSP with a new start and end date.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.8.11

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, July 20, 2021, eff. 7/20/2021