Section 2 - EIIS Service Delivery System
EIIS Service Delivery Pathway | EIIS Autism Team | Meeting Notes (doc) | Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
Parents and Family Members | Transitioning from Home to School (pdf)
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Parent Resource Package
Section 2 - EIIS Service Delivery System (Download Section 2)
EIIS Service Delivery Pathway
Step 1: Referral
- To make a referral to the EIIS Autism Team, parents or service providers must complete a referral form. Copies of the form are available by calling EIIS toll free at 1-866-762-3383 or (902) 749-5667.
Step 2: Intake
- A Community Support Worker will meet with you and your family to gather information about your child's development.
- This information will be reviewed by the EIIS Autism Team to determine whether an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a possible explanation for your child's behaviours or slow development.
Step 3: Diagnostic Assessment
- If necessary, the EIIS Autism Team will conduct a diagnostic assessment to determine if your child meets the criteria for an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or another condition.
Step 4: Abilities Assessment
- For most children diagnosed with an ASD, there will be some further evaluation of their skills. This will help the team (which includes you and your family) to identify your child's strengths and needs.
Step 5: Intervention
- Once team members have had a chance to become familiar with your child, they will meet together with you to develop an "Individual Family Service Plan" (IFSP). The IFSP will document your family's goals and objectives for treatment and identify who will do what to help you reach those goals. The goals and plans will be updated as your child progresses.
Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
What is the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)?
The IFSP is an action plan that identifies your family's priorities and what services will be provided to meet the needs of your child and family. The IFSP process is flexible, continuous and individualized to reflect your family's unique interests, expectations and circumstances.15 The IFSP document is a record of your child's treatment plan and the services your family will receive. The IFSP will be updated as necessary as your child progresses.
What is recorded in the IFSP?
The main purpose of the IFSP is to outline your child's treatment plan. This plan is based on the goals and objectives you and your family have identified as being most important. The team will help you to identify your priorities and what services are available to help you meet your needs. The IFSP will record your treatment decisions and will outline how the Autism Team will help you to reach your family's goals.
The IFSP is organized into several sections that include:
- Identification: Contact information, date of birth, medical concerns.
- EIIS Autism Team Members & Other service providers: Contact information.
- Other Family Supports
- Assessment and Summary Reports
- Report on Child's Strengths and Needs
- Agreed upon child and family outcomes: Long and short term goals.
- IFSP Action Plan: What will we do? How will we do it? Who will help?
What is Document A?
Document A: Areas Of Strengths And Needs As Identified By The Family
(Download Word Document)
Document A is a template that helps you and your family prepare for the IFSP meeting. Before the IFSP meeting, a service provider from the Autism Team will meet with you and your family to help you identify strengths and needs, organize your thoughts, and prioritize your family's goals. You can use Document A to write down the strengths and needs you have identified as being important for your child or family. This information will be the starting point for developing your family's IFSP.
Preparing for the IFSP Meeting
As you and your family prepare for the IFSP meeting, you may find it useful to organize your thoughts, concerns and questions prior to the meeting day. Document A is a good place to write these down so that they are not forgotten on the day of the meeting.
The purpose of most IFSP meetings is:15
- To bring together all the professionals involved in your child's care and development.
- To discuss your family's overall questions and concerns.
- To update on recent progress.
- To determine what goals and strategies are realistic for your family and child.
- To plan how, when, and by whom these goals and strategies will be implemented.
With the above purpose in mind, think about what you and your family would like to discuss during the meeting. Identify your questions and concerns and prioritize these concerns according to their importance in your family's daily life. During the meeting, carefully consider these concerns and the possible strategies that will be developed, within the context of your whole family's busy routine and schedule. Think about what will be realistic for your family and child.
Parent Checklist for IFSP Meeting15
PREPARATION:
- Am I aware of the date, time and location?
- Am I aware of the purpose of the meeting?
- Have I thought of our family's strengths and needs?
- Have I thought of my child's strengths and needs?
- Do I have family goals in mind?
- Do I have some goals for my child in mind?
- Have I prepared questions?
- Do I feel comfortable attending the meeting by myself or have I asked someone to come along for moral support?
- Do I have childcare for my child during the meeting?
- Do I have my Parent Resource Package and a pen?
DURING:
- Am I calm, ready to listen, learn from and teach others?
- Do I understand the terms the others are using?
- Have I asked for clarification if I don't understand?
- Are all my concerns being addressed?
- Am I trying to stay positive and keeping the negative in perspective?
- Am I providing honest feedback?
- Am I sharing information with others about my child?
- Am I participating in collaborative problem-solving?
Thing to keep in mind:
- Keep communication lines open with all participants at the meeting
- I am my child's advocate
- The final decision regarding my child is mine to make
- Professionals are there to assist me and my child
AFTER THE IFSP MEETING:
- Am I satisfied with the goals we set as a team?
- Did I have time to address my concerns and questions?
- Were my values and concerns respected by the other team members?
- Were the decisions made for my child and family realistic?
- Is it clear to me who is responsible for carrying out the decisions?
- Do I still have questions which were not addressed?
- Do I feel the need for a follow-up meeting? If yes, has a date for the meeting been set?
- Has the IFSP form been filled out?
- Have I reviewed the IFSP form and made any necessary changes before it was distributed to the other participant of the meeting?
- Do I have a copy of the IFSP form?
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