EARLY INTERVENTION REEVALUATIONS

Understanding the Reevaluation Process

Annually, an IFSP team must review all areas of development to determine if the child continues to be eligible for Early ACCESS services. IFSP teams may have current and adequate assessment information available to them to make the determination; however, they may need to collect additional data to ensure all areas of development are sufficiently addressed. 

Prior to an Annual IFSP Meeting

In preparation for the Annual IFSP meeting the team must review data to answer the question, "Is a child we are serving still eligible for Early ACCESS?”   

If the child has a diagnosed condition, the child continues to be eligible. No re-evaluation procedures are required.

The Annual Eligibility Determination Decision Flowchart-Early Intervention shows the decisions and actions needed to determine continuing eligibility for early intervention services.

If the child was eligible based on a 25% delay in at least one area of development, the team must review existing data to determine if additional information is needed to determine if the child continues to have the delay(s).

• If existing data suggests the child continues to have a 25% delay in at least one area of development, then the child continues to be eligible.
• If existing data suggests the child may no longer have a 25% delay in at least one area of development, the child must be reevaluated to verify that a 25% delay no longer is present. Prior to completing the reevaluation the team must obtain parent consent for evaluation and provide the parents with a Prior Written Notice.
• During the reevaluation, if a 25% delay is found in one or more areas, the child continues to be eligible and all other areas of development do not need to be evaluated. However, if a 25% delay is not found in the area(s) of concern, then all developmental areas must be evaluated to assure there is no 25% delay in any area prior to exiting Early ACCESS.

The service coordinator assigned to an IFSP team will arrange the IFSP meeting at a time and location that is convenient for families and use a Meeting Notice to inform IFSP team members of the meeting. The service coordinator will also check that all evaluations and assessments are, or will be, completed prior to the annual IFSP meeting. 

During and Following an Annual IFSP Meeting

During an annual IFSP meeting, the following will take place:

1. Review and share the Procedural Safeguards Manual for Parents. The Early Intervention Procedural Safeguards Discussion Guide may be used to inform parents of their rights, however, parents must be offered a printed copy of the manual by the service coordinator.​
2. Review and update family information and Family Statements.
3. Review evaluation/assessment data to confirm the child continues to be eligible.
   1.  If the child is not eligible, the IFSP team will help the family to find and connect with needed resources.
   2. If the child is eligible, the team will develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for the child/family.
   3. Determine the effectiveness of activities and services to achieve the outcomes.
   4. Determine needed changes to the plan due to the child’s health/development or the family’s capacity to meet their child’s needs. This may involve modifications and/or revisions to outcomes or an increase or decrease in services and/or frequency, duration, intensity, or location.
4. Review the IFSP.
5. Seek parent informed consent for services. The contents of the IFSP must be fully explained to a parent and informed written consent from a parent must be obtained prior to the delivery of any new early intervention services described in the IFSP.
6. Finalize paperwork and communications. Before the annual IFSP meeting is done, the following will be completed;
   1. Review when each new early intervention service is scheduled to begin and address any questions the family may have.
   2. If the child is insured by Medicaid, seek parent authorization for Medicaid reimbursement for IFSP services.
   3. If determined necessary and/or appropriate, seek consent for the release and exchange of information with community providers.
   4. Provide parents a copy of the IFSP at no cost as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after the IFSP meeting.
   5. Discuss with the family who else will get copies of the IFSP with appropriate releases.