Justification for Services in Settings Other Than the Natural Environment

1) Purpose: EI services for infants and toddlers with disabilities are provided, to the maximum extent appropriate, in natural environments.

2) When EI outcomes cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a natural environment, the Justification page provides a format for documenting this rare instance.

3) Process: If there is a determination by the IFSP team that an EI service cannot effectively be provided in the child’s and family’s natural environment, written documentation is provided on this page as to why an outcome cannot be achieved in this environment.

4) EI Data System: This information is entered via the IFSP Home Visual Force page under the EI Services tab by scrolling down to Justification for Services in Settings Other Than the Natural Environment section.

Justification as to why a natural environment cannot be used to meet outcome number(s): Identify which outcome(s) is not being achieved satisfactorily in the natural environment and why there is a need to provide the service in a more restrictive setting. There must be clear documentation that sufficient time was allowed for appropriate EI service(s) to be delivered in the natural environment before determination shall be made that the child is not making sufficient progress toward the outcomes within the natural environment of the child and family. The documentation should be related to the needs and functional outcomes for the individual child and not to the administrative convenience of the provider or the preference of any member of the IFSP team, including the parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

Document why proposed setting was chosen: Provide a description of the proposed setting and how the setting may result in progress toward the outcome(s).

Document strategies to move toward providing the service(s) in everyday routines, activities and places: Provide a plan for how the EI service(s) will be generalized to the child’s natural environment and the steps and timelines that will be taken to move toward the provision of service(s) in the child’s natural environment.