During an initial visit for a developmentally delayed toddler, the family asks about community services. What should the nurse practitioner do first?

During an initial visit for a developmentally delayed toddler, the family asks about community services. What should the nurse practitioner do first?

• A. Ask the parents if they have an individualized family service plan (IFSP).
• B. Consult with a physician to ensure the child gets appropriate care.
• C. Inform the family that services are provided when the child begins school.
• D. Refer the family to a social worker for assistance with referrals and services.

Answer: (A)

Early intervention for children under three is organized through an individualized family service plan (IFSP) that coordinates services in the child’s natural environment. Asking the family whether they already have an IFSP is the natural first step because it quickly shows whether there is an existing plan to build on and what services are already in place or needed. If an IFSP exists, you review it and help connect the family with the listed services and goals. If there isn’t one, you begin the evaluation and eligibility process to establish an IFSP and arrange appropriate supports in the home or community. School-based services or IEPs are not the starting point for a child under three; they come into play later, typically when the child enters preschool or kindergarten. While referrals to a social worker or physician involvement can be part of coordinating care, the initial action should be to determine the status of an IFSP and initiate or update the plan accordingly.

Early intervention for children under three is organized through an individualized family service plan (IFSP) that coordinates services in the child’s natural environment. Asking the family whether they already have an IFSP is the natural first step because it quickly shows whether there is an existing plan to build on and what services are already in place or needed. If an IFSP exists, you review it and help connect the family with the listed services and goals. If there isn’t one, you begin the evaluation and eligibility process to establish an IFSP and arrange appropriate supports in the home or community.

School-based services or IEPs are not the starting point for a child under three; they come into play later, typically when the child enters preschool or kindergarten. While referrals to a social worker or physician involvement can be part of coordinating care, the initial action should be to determine the status of an IFSP and initiate or update the plan accordingly.