Services Coordination

Services Coordination provides a central point of contact for families who request such assistance. A Services Coordinator assists families of eligible infants or toddlers with disabilities within a community to identify and meet each child's needs through coordination of informal and formal supports. It is designed to support families when needed, while working toward self-direction and empowerment.

Services Coordination is an entitlement for early intervention families that is offered to families upon the initial contact. During the initial meeting with the family, the Services Coordinator will determine if the family is interested in proceeding with the IFSP process. Services Coordination may involve several components. These may include but are not limited to the following:

• Visit family to gather information and develop rapport
• Obtain releases of information to facilitate sharing of information
• Notify referral source that initial contact with the family has been made
• Maintain communication with referral sources and other contacts that may be requested by the family
• Identify family needs, strengths and priorities throughout the process
• Advocate for the family to ensure the IFSP process is driven by the family's priorities and needs
• Assist the family in forming the IFSP team and obtaining needed services
• Serve as a liason between the family and service providers, while working to empower the family in taking on the role of ensuring providers are meeting their needs
• Assist the family in identifying gaps in services and communicating that information to other team members
• Work with the family to develop strengths and skills necessary to support the child with the disability
• Facilitate and support the parents in developing advocacy skills
• Maintain current information regarding services available in the community
• Develop and maintain interagency contacts
• Coordinate and chair IFSP team meetings and conduct appropriate follow-up to assure plan implementation (initial, periodic reviews and others)
• Complete, update, disseminate IFSP documents following confidentiality and time frame guidelines
• Provide written notice to family and participants early enough before IFSP meeting date to ensure they will be able to attend
• Facilitate communication between the family, the IFSP team and other service providers
• Facilitate problem solving and collaboration of team members around changing needs
• Assist in modifying the IFSP when indicated by family needs
• Facilitate development of transition plans to preschool if appropriate

Services Coordination will include monthly contact with the family; this will be face-to-face contact at least every other month

A family may decline Services Coordination initially and later receive Services Coordination offered through the community's Early Development Network programs.

Services Coordination activities will be billed monthly to the Nebraska Health & Human Services System, with no cost assessed to families. At any point in time, the family may opt to serve as their own Services Coordinator (initially, during an IFSP meeting, or following the IFSP meeting) without compensation.