Interim
IFSP
An interim IFSP is developed using the Nebraska IFSP process and IFSP document to initiate early intervention services for an eligible child and the child's family before the completion of the evaluation and assessment if the following conditions are met:
- School district personnel notify the services coordinator that based on professional judgment and available information, the child may be eligible.
- Parental
consent is obtained .
An
interim IFSP is developed that includes:
- The name of
the Services Coordinator who will be responsible for
the interim IFSP and coordination with other agencies and persons.
- The early intervention services that have been determined to be needed immediately by the child and the child's family.
- The evaluation and assessment are completed within the time period specified in NDE Rule 51.
A
team of appropriate community or school service providers,
in cooperation with the Services Coordinator, can initiate
needed services with the interim IFSP.
An Interim IFSP is NOT used to delay the MDT or the initial IFSP.
Example:
The Smith family consists of a single mom, Barb, age 35; her 7 year old son Michael who has had a hearing impairment since birth and 2 year old John who was born premature at 26 weeks gestation. Barb has recently gone through a separation from her husband of 12 years. She states that the stress from having to care for two children with disabilities ruined her relationship with her husband. Barb's husband is in the military and the family has just moved back to Nebraska.
Barb heard about Nebraska's Early Development Network from a co-worker and called the Services Coordination Agency. Ginger Thomas was assigned as services coordinator and met with Barb and the children two days after the phone call was received. Ginger documented the following:
John's Current Health Status
NICU: John was born at 26 weeks gestation and was hospitalized for twelve weeks after birth due to prematurity. He required mechanical ventilation for 10 weeks, had a grade 3 intraventricular bleed (IVH) and had an unstable NIU course. He was also born with congenital heart disease (CHD) and had two corrective surgeries before he was 6 months of age. Additionally, he was born with a porencephalic cyst on the brain, which has since been removed.
Present Condition: John presently is diagnosed with CP and has had two soft tendon releases; he also has a left hip problem due to a deteriorating hip socket. He wears AFOs and splints. John suffered from uncontrolled seizures in the past but presently his seizures are under control. He is being monitored by neurologist Dr. Foster who sees him every 6 months, or on an as needed basis. However, he lives in California, leaving John without a local neurologist.
Nutrition: John has a G-button placement since he was 8 months of age. Attempts made at feeding John have resulted in choking episodes, aspiration pneumonia and duskiness r/t choking. He receives pureed foods and 5 feedings per day of ISOCAL plus 3-water feedings daily. Despite being gastrostomy tube fed, John continues to be in the 5th percentile for height and weight. This is of concern to Barb, since she realizes that his nutritional status is related to his health status.
ADL: John has limited use of his upper and lower extremities and is able to commando crawl.
Cognition: Speech is limited to a few words and he has a hard time understanding and processing verbal commands most of the time.
Needs: Barb is feeling fearful of allowing John to become more involved in his G-button care and feeding. She states that she needs "time-out" for rest and relaxation because of the daily grind between her part-time job and caring for two sons with special needs. She also needs child care to maintain employment and has recently been thinking about obtaining her high school diploma. John was receiving OT and PT in California, in the Early Start program.
As you can see, John has numerous health issues and Barb has identified specific needs. Ginger talks to Barb about the program and the necessary paperwork is completed. Barb has an IFSP from California that was completed about 10 months ago.
After Ginger's visit with Barb and the children, she discusses the situation with Mary Simpson, the Special Education Director. Mary looks over the California IFSP to see what services John was receiving, and Ginger informs her that John may be eligible for a Home and Community Based Waiver*. Mary and Ginger agree that an Interim IFSP will be developed so that the OT and PT can begin and that the IFSP could be sent in for eligibility determination to the Waiver program. Mary stated that a MDT would be completed to assess areas of development and then an initial IFSP will be done. The IFSP must be completed witin the 45-day time period from the date of the referral.
*More information about the Home and Community Based Waiver program can be found on the Nebraska Health and Human Services website at http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/reg/t480.htm.
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