What are the principles that guide IFS?

The following 15 principles are the foundation from which the program grew. We always keep them uppermost in our minds when we make decisions that affect people's lives.

1. Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are best able to determine their own needs and should be empowered to make decisions concerning necessary, desirable, and appropriate services.

2. Families should receive the support necessary to care for their children at home.

3. Family support should be responsive to the needs of the entire family unit.

4. Supports should be sensitive to the unique needs and strengths of individuals and families.

5. Supports should build on existing social networks and natural sources of support.

6. Supports may be needed throughout the life span of the individual who has a developmental disability.

7. Supports should encourage the integration of people with developmental disabilities into the community.

8. Support services should be flexible enough to accommodate unique needs of individuals and families as they evolve over time.

9. Support services should be consistent with the cultural preferences and orientations of individuals and families.

10. Support services should be comprehensive and coordinated across the numerous agencies likely to provide resources and services, or both, to individuals and families.

11. Family, individual, and community-based services should be based on the principles of sharing ordinary places, developing meaningful relationships, learning things that are useful, making choices, as well as increasing the status and enhancing the reputation of the people served.

12. Supports should be developed by the state that are necessary, desirable, and appropriate to support individuals and families.

13. Developmental disabilities programs and policies should enhance the development of the individual with a developmental disability and the family.

14. A coordinated system of supports to families effectively uses existing resources and minimizes gaps in supports to families and individuals in all areas of the state.

15. Service coordination is a goal-oriented process for coordination of the range of services needed and wanted by persons with developmental disabilities and their families, and is independent of service provision.