READ AND FOLLOW THE GUIDED RESONSE. ANSWER PEER1 THEN PEERS 2 ON A DIFFERENT PAGE. SEE ATTACHED FILE ON MY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND IFSP. READ THE ATTACHED FILE TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT

Guided Response:  Read and respond to your peers.  Compare and contrast what you have discovered about Early Intervention services and IFSPs in your area.  Talk about how these services support children and families.

PEER 1

Early intervention if caught at the correct time in a child’s development can make such a difference in the way they are able to progress and learn in school. Early Head Start includes children from ages birth to three years old. When a child is diagnosed with a delay in this age group an IFSP (individual family service plan) is developed for them and their family. After the children are over the age of three years old then they will be having an ISP (individual service plan) to help them in the area they have received a referral in.

Working in Head Start you are constantly learning different and new agencies and programs that are designed to help children in our community. Here in Florida, we have a wide variety of services offered to children and families in need of help. The following are organizations that offer children and their families in Central Florida from ages birth – teens.

Early Steps: This is a local agency through the department of health in the state of Florida. They help parents and teachers learn new skills to help their children who have been diagnosed with a developmental delay. “Families and caregivers also receive support to develop the skills and confidence they need to help their children learn and develop.” (www.floridahealth.gov) For more information, visit www.cms-kids.com/families/early_steps/early_steps.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Help Me Grow Florida: An organization working with families throughout central Florida helping them find the individualized help they need for their children. When parents are frustrated and cannot receive help for any number of reasons, help me grow Florida will assist families finding the perfect assistance they need.

Children’s Home Society of Florida: Here children can find a home that helps protect and heal them from a number of different situations they could be facing. Encouraging children to strive to be their best and prepare children for a bright future.

Easter Seals: An organization designed to help parents with children who have special needs or a disability live a better and more fulfilled life. They offer a variety of services form physical rehabilitation and helping assist children and families with challenges in life.

Healthy Families Florida:  Here in Florida there are many expecting mothers who are come from a stressful life situation, healthy families go out on home visits and assist young and troubled moms who are expecting. They discuss different options especially for those moms who are expecting and know that their child will be born with a disability.

PEER 2

Early intervention is a “family-focused, in-home service for children from birth to 36 months of age with developmental delays.” doe.sd.gov/Birthto3/ This program helps families understand their child’s development and offers specific training for the families to help their child learn and grow.

An IFSP is an Individual Family Service Plan, this plan is collaboratively put together by staff and family members for the eligible child. This type of plan is written for children who fall in the age range of birth to three.

For a child who would be eligible for these services or families who are looking for information there are different options for parents to talk to.  Center for Early Literacy Learning, Bright Start, SD Advocacy, SD Parent Connection and the regular school district.  A parent can talk to their special education team at their home school to set up screening.  Other options are talking to their child’s pediatrician for a referral for a full screening at lifeScapes.

I currently work for a Head Start program and many of the children who are in our classrooms have been in early intervention programs or Early Head Start.  Many children receive speech and occupational therapy services through the school district.  When a child enters Head Start their IFSP then rolls over into a IEP which will then continue into Kindergarten if needed.  A child who moves into Kindergarten will be retested each year and then have a complete eval every 3 years.