ITFI components include
Infant-Toddler and Family Instrument
- Caregiver Interview. This interview with the child's parent or primary caregiver covers three major areas: Home and Family Life, Child Health and Safety, and Family Issues and Concerns. Direct, open-ended questions help professionals gather crucial information in a sensitive way.
- Developmental Map. A professional engages the child in specific behaviors divided into four categories of development: gross and fine motor, social and emotional, language, and coping and self-help. Using the Developmental Map, which covers nine different age intervals, the professional then compares the child's behavior during the assessment with behavior that is typical within the child's age interval.
- Checklist for Evaluating Concern. After family visits are complete, the professional completes this checklist, divided into three sections: Home and Family Environment; Child Health, Development, and Safety; and Stressors in the Child's Life. The professional checks yes, unsure, or of concern, then complete a summary sheet to rate their concern on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high).
- Plan for the Child and Family. Here, the professional develops a plan of action with the child's family, reviewing the results of the first three parts of ITFI; possibly recommending referrals, consultations, or home visits; and showing caregivers how they can use community resources.