IFSP Outcomes - Michigan Alliance for Families

Be sure to visit our IFSP webpage to see how IFSP outcomes fit into the IFSP process.

What are IFSP outcomes?

IFSP outcomes are the goals for your child and family. They describe the skills or behaviors your child is working on and the strategies your family will use to support them in everyday routines. They should be prioritized in the order of what is most important to the family. Outcomes can focus directly on what the child is learning (like improving communication or motor skills) or on supporting the family with strategies and interventions they can use at home and in the community to support the child’s needs. Outcomes fit into the child or family’s routine and needs.

Outcomes should:

Address the family’s concerns while respecting values, beliefs, culture, and priorities
Contain objectives that are relevant, specific, and measurable
State when and how often progress updates will be shared
Be short-term (within six months) and attainable
Be identified and written before discussing services
Describe the family routine or activity where the child and family will practice the outcome

A simple way to check if an outcome has all the needed information is to see if it answers these “Wh” questions:

Who will be working on the outcome—the child, the parent, or both?
What is the need being addressed? What is the present level and what is the expected outcome?
How will the outcome be achieved? What steps or supports are needed?
Where will the outcome be practiced? (Natural environments like home, childcare, or community settings should be the first choice.)
When will the outcome be reached—within 3 months, 6 months, or another defined time frame?

ECTA Resources for Writing Good IFSP Outcomes

What are child outcomes?

Early On uses the word “outcomes” in two different ways. Every child receiving Early On services in Michigan is measured using the same three child outcomes to help track their developmental progress.

The data collected by the child outcomes helps Early On and early childhood special education programs understand how children are progressing over time and evaluate how well programs are supporting children’s development.

The three statewide child outcomes are

Gaining positive social emotional skills, including social relationships. This outcome measures how children interact and play with their family, other adults, and other children.
Learning and using new knowledge and skills. This outcome measures how children learn and use basic language and communication skills such as counting and problem-solving that will prepare them to be successful in kindergarten.
Using appropriate behaviors to meet their needs. This outcome measures how children gradually become more independent by learning how to move from place to place, feed themselves, and take care of basic needs.

These child outcomes are different from the outcomes in your child’s IFSP. The three child outcomes provide a common way to measure the progress of all children receiving Early On services. On your child’s IFSP, those outcomes describe the specific skills or routines your family wants to work on with your child.