You can use this worksheet to get ready for your child’s IPP or IFSP meeting. It will help you think about goals for your child, and the services and supports your child needs to reach those goals. This will help you decide what services you may need from the regional center to support your child.

Goals

Make a list of the goals you have for your child and your family. If you can, describe the steps needed to reach each goal.

Questions

Ask yourself these questions. The answers will help you shape your goals.

1. Where do you want your child to live?
2. In what ways would you like your child to be included in the community?
3. In what ways would you like your child to be included in school?
4. What does your child need to become more integrated in the community and at school? For example, your child may need to learn certain self-help strategies, or get help with a medical or behavior problem.
5. What kind of services do you need so you can:
   • Go to school or work.
   • Take a break from child care so you could relax or do something fun.
   • Do chores like cooking, shopping, and cleaning.
   • Care for other children.

   (You may need services and supports for your child with a disability so you can do these things)

6. Does your family have cultural, lifestyle, and language needs that you want to be part of the services you get?

Services

Once you know your goals, you can list the services and supports you need to reach your goals. List all the services you have now and the services you want.

Think about the services and supports your family needs to keep your child at home. If staying at home is best for your child, the regional center must consider every possible way to help you keep your child living at home before looking at out-of-home options. Here is a list of some family support services the law talks about. The regional center must also provide other services your child needs.

Sometimes family members, friends, or other people you know are willing and able to provide services or support. This is called “natural” support. But, if you do not have natural support, the regional center must provide the support your child needs. The regional center cannot say your family or friends have to support you instead of providing a service.

Some services are available to you through school, community, or public agencies, such as special education, Medi-Cal, and IHSS. You may be able to get help from your private health plan. Your regional center expects you to use these “generic resources” if you have them. They will not provide the same services. But, they must help you get them and make sure the services are right for your child.

The IPP planning team should discuss each service and support your child needs. The IPP should include all services your child needs, even if they are getting the service somewhere else, like a generic agency, and not from the regional center. At the end of the IPP meeting, the regional center must provide you with a list of agreed-upon services it will provide. This means you should not leave the meeting wondering what they will actually provide. The list should have each service, when it may start, how often you will have it and how long it will last, and the provider (if known).