Step 4: The Family Assessment (optional)

As part of your child’s MDE, you will be given the chance to take part in in a voluntary family assessment; it is not required. The family assessment is family-directed and used to help you in determining the resources, priorities, and concerns of your family related to caring for and enhancing your child’s development; it is not a test of your parenting skills. The family assessment is based on information provided by you and your family in a personal one-to-one discussion with a member of your child’s evaluation team. The family assessment can help you to think about what you need most from EI services and other community services or supports. It can also help you prepare for your IFSP meeting. All of the information that you share is kept private. You decide what information from the assessment should be included in the evaluation report, and discussed at your IFSP meeting.

Information provided by the New York State Early Intervention Program