§465. Individualized family service plan

A. Assessment and program development shall provide, at a minimum, for each infant and toddler with disabilities and the infant's or toddler's family to receive:

(1) A multidisciplinary assessment of the unique strengths and needs of the infant or toddler and the identification of services appropriate to meet such needs.

(2) A family-directed assessment of the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family and the identification of the supports and services necessary to enhance the family's capacity to meet the developmental needs of the infant or toddler.

(3) A written individualized family service plan developed by a multidisciplinary team, including the parents, as required by Subsection D of this Section, including a description of the appropriate transition services for the infant or toddler.

B. The individualized family service plan shall be evaluated annually, and the family shall be provided a review of the plan at six-month intervals or more often as appropriate based on the infant or toddler and family needs.

C. The individualized family service plan shall be developed within a reasonable time after the assessment required by Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section is completed. With the parent's consent, early intervention services may commence prior to the completion of the assessment.

D. The individualized family service plan shall be in writing and contain all of the following:

(1) A statement of the infant's or toddler's present level of physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, and adaptive development, based on objective criteria.

(2) A statement of the family's resources, priorities, and concerns relating to enhancing the development of the family's infant or toddler with a disability.

(3) A statement of the measurable results or outcomes expected to be achieved for the infant and toddler and the family, including preliteracy and language skills, as developmentally appropriate for the child, and the criteria, procedures, and timelines used to determine the degree to which progress toward achieving the results or outcomes is being made and whether modifications or revisions of the results or outcomes or services are necessary.

(4) A statement of specific early intervention services based on peer-reviewed research, to the extent practicable, necessary to meet the unique needs of the infant or toddler and the family, including the frequency, intensity, and the method of delivering services.

(5) A statement of the natural environments in which early intervention services shall appropriately be provided, including a justification of the extent, if any, to which the services will not be provided in a natural environment.

(6) The projected dates for initiation of services and the anticipated length, duration, and frequency of the services.

(7) The identification of the family service coordinator from the profession most immediately relevant to the infant's or toddler's or family's needs or who is otherwise qualified to carry out all applicable responsibilities pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter who will be responsible for the implementation of the plan and coordination with other agencies and persons, including transition services.

(8) The steps to be taken to support the transition of the toddler with a disability to preschool or other appropriate services, including the following steps:

(a) Notify the local educational agency for the area in which such a child resides that the child will shortly reach the age of eligibility for preschool services pursuant to IDEA-Part B federal regulations as determined in accordance with Louisiana law.

(b) In the case of a child who may be eligible for such preschool services, with the approval of the family of the child, convene a conference among the family service coordinator, the family, and the local educational agency at least ninety days but no more than six months before the child is eligible for the preschool services, to discuss any such services that the child may receive.

(c) In the case of a child who may not be eligible for such preschool services, with the approval of the family, make reasonable efforts to convene a conference among the family service coordinator, the family, and providers of other appropriate services for children who are not eligible for preschool service pursuant to IDEA-Part B federal regulations to discuss the appropriate services that the child may receive.

E. The contents of the individualized family service plan shall be fully explained to the parents and informed written consent from the parents shall be obtained prior to the provision of early intervention services described in such plan. If the parents do not provide consent with respect to a particular early intervention service, then only the early intervention services to which consent is obtained shall be provided.

Acts 2013, No. 417, §1, eff. June 21, 2013.