New Precedent in Family Policy: Individualized Family Service Plan

Abstract

By requiring a family focus in the provision of early intervention services, the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) provisions of Public Law 99–457 establish a new precedent in public policies for families of children with disabilities. In this article, the conceptual and procedural mandates of the IFSP are analyzed from two perspectives: as bold, radical steps taken by the federal government and as logical extensions of current service delivery practices that focus on the child but involve parents in planning and implementing programs. The implications of these perspectives for policy and program implementation are discussed.