An individual plan of care is a written plan of care for a specific child. It includes:
- Specific needs or concerns related to that child
- Specific approaches to prevent, minimize, or eliminate the concerns identified for this child
The child’s parents or caregivers will work together with child care staff — along with any input from a health care provider. Together, you can identify the child’s needs and the best approaches to help.
Why a child might need a plan
Families and providers may choose to develop an individual plan of care for a child if they meet both of these criteria:
- The child has chronic (ongoing) health condition, issue, or disability
- The child needs special care while in a child care program (usually documented by a health care provider)
Just because a child has a diagnosis or needs medication isn’t reason — by itself — that you need an individual plan of care.
Children with acute (temporary and not ongoing) conditions don’t usually need an individual plan of care. For example, a child with a cold doesn’t need one, but a child with asthma might.
Examples of conditions that may require a plan
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Special dietary needs
- Dental problems
- Hearing or visual impairments
- Chronic illness
- Developmental variations
- History of contagious disease
These are just a few examples. There are lots of reasons a child might need a plan.
How to decide if a child needs an individual plan of care
Follow these steps as a guide:
- Check the child’s health record for documentation showing the child has a special health care need or disability. Remember that a diagnosis is only a starting point to ask more questions.
- Observe the interactions and care that the child needs or is receiving.
- Interview child care staff responsible for the care of the child.
- Evaluate the need for an individual plan of care. Ask yourself, “What care or service must be provided to this child that is different than for another child?”
Creating a plan
When you’re creating a plan, make sure to include:
- Specific care the child needs:
- To prevent prevent, minimize, or eliminate identified concerns
- In an emergency
- Signature of the parent(s) or guardian(s)
- Signatures of everyone responsible for the care of the child
- The Health Consultant may sign the plan of care also but is not required to do so
Doctors or health care providers are not required to sign the form.
See examples of a plan
- Sample plan developed by OEC
- The Asthma Action Plan. This plan developed by DPH Asthma Program is a good model. It helps families become proactive in gaining control over a child’s asthma, anticipating triggers, and watching for signs of an exacerbation.
Regulatory requirements
Family Child Care Homes
Section 19a-87b-10(d)-The provider shall maintain in the family child care home a written individual plan of care for each child with disabilities or special health care needs, including but not limited to, allergies, special dietary needs, dental problems, hearing or visual impairments, chronic illness, developmental variations or history of contagious disease who requires special care be taken or provided while the child is at the family child care home. Such plan shall be based on the recommendations of the child’s primary health care provider, developed with the child’s parent(s) at intake, implemented and updated as necessary to meet the child’s changing needs. Such plan shall include appropriate care of the child in the event of a medical or other emergency and shall be signed by the provider, parent(s) and any approved staff members responsible for the care of the child.
Group Child Care Homes/Child Care Centers
Section 19a-79-5a(a)(E)-Information regarding disabilities or special health care needs such as allergies, special dietary needs, dental problems, hearing or visual impairments, chronic illness, developmental variations or history of contagious disease and an individual plan of care for a child with special health care needs or disabilities, developed with the child’s parent(s) and health care provider and updated as necessary. Such plan shall include appropriate care of the child in the event of a medical or other emergency and shall be signed by the parent(s) and staff responsible for the care of the child.