IFSP Tools

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, aka NECTAC, the Western Regional Resource Center, or WRRC and the Early Childhood Outcomes Center or ECO  have released a new training package. The training package, entitled "Developing High Quality, Functional IFSP Outcomes and IEP Goals" is available for use as is, or it is easily adapted for time, audience or content.

A few EIFA board members (and perhaps even a few EIFA members) participated on the webinar hosted by NECTAC to announce the new training package. The training package includes an editable PowerPoint presentation along with training script, discussion topics, video vignettes and group activities. This training package was a collaboration between three technical assistance centers in response to the needs of states, localities and early intervention providers in the field. As family members we want to make sure that family leaders are aware of these new tools available to professionals who support families.

NECTAC has segmented the training into 6 distinct sections, so that trainers can adapt the training for content, time frame or audience. While the training is designed to address both IFSPs and IEPs, it can easily be used for one group or the other. The six sections are as follows:

Section 1: Setting the Context  
Section 2: Functional Assessment 
Section 3: Integrating Functional Assessment and Outcome Measurement with IFSP Outcomes/IEP Goals  
Section 4: Functional, High Quality IFSP Outcomes and IEP Goals  
Section 5: IFSP Strategies to Meet Outcomes and IEP Objectives to Meet Goals  
Section 6: Applying the Information: Practical Learning Experience  

One of the activities that we've seen used is the place mat activity. This tabletop activity is designed to spur discussion about the quality, function and participatory nature of a series of IFSP outcomes and/or IEP goals. One of the presenters shared her experience using the package in her state. The presenter shared that while this training is geared towards practitioners each of her training sessions included family members. The presenter also shared that the number one request from participants was the opportunity to continue to share draft functional outcomes.

We'd like to hear what you think about these new tools!