5.4.3
Individual Child Goals (ICG)
Individual Child Goals (ICG) are created to establish developmentally appropriate goals for each child based on the information gathered through various screenings, observations and ongoing assessment. The information gathered is used to identify strengths and areas of need.
Details of established child goals:
- For center-based children, 2 goals are required; for Home-based, 2 goals are required
- Staff will use the Action Plan tab within the Parent Progress report found in Learning Genie, to create child goals.
- To create child goals, staff will select 2 of the child’s strength measures (from different domains) and 2 of the child’s growth measures form (from different domains). The child’s growth measures will be the child’s goals.
- If a child has an IEP/IFSP, at least one goals should be incorporated into the ICG for the child. In many instances more than one goal may be included. These goals should be highlighted in orange.
- After selecting the strength and growth measures, staff will select “Simplified View”. Staff will also type in the Action Plan, following the pre-filled text, “These goals will be worked on 2 times (HS) and 4 times (EHS) in each 8-week cycle.”
- Staff will then generate the reports, printing 2 copies, one for the parent and one for the child file.
- Parents must be encouraged to participate in the development of their child’s goals.
Important Notes:
- Family activities follow up will be completed by Home Visitors or Family Workers and documented on Family Partnership Agreement/School Readiness Goals assessment and follow up form.
Filing
For center-based children, child goals are kept in the child files. Child goal information will be transferred to the Child File Summary form. A copy of the child goals is placed in the parent contact binder for follow up on the family activity, three times per year.
For home-based children, during the program year the Home Visitors will keep the child goals in the travel file. At the end of the year, the child goals are transferred into the child’s file.
Individualization Tracking form
The Individualization Tracking Form is used to track children’s participation in the individual goal activities that are outlined in the child’s goals. This form is used for children enrolled in center-based programs only (HS/EHS) and not for home-based programs.
There are separate tracking forms for center-based children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start:
The tracking form is created by Primary Caregivers (EHS) and Teachers (HS) after Individual Child Goals are set, and includes children’s names and DRDP measure number.
After a child participates in a planned goal activity, enter the date they participated in the space under the appropriate measure number (goal number). Planned goal activities should be incorporated into lesson plans. For more information, see the SOP Planning Activities.
Important Notes:
- For children enrolled in Head Start, each goal must be tracked 2x per 8-week period.
- For children enrolled in Early Head Start, each goal must be tracked 4x per 8-week period.
- Be sure to write an observation of the child’s participation in the individualized activity. Child goal observations should be custom tagged in Learning Genie application using the “Child Goal” tag.
- Keep Individualization Tracking forms in the lesson plan binder.
For children enrolled in Home-based programs, each goal is tracked 2x per month using the Monthly Home Visit Record form.
References
- Child Goals and Development Progress form – English | Spanish
- Home-based Child Goals form – English
- Samples of Child Goals and Development Progress form – Early Head Start | Head Start
- Individualization Tracking Form – Early Head Start | Head Start
- Learning Genie Staff Training Handbook
- Monthly Home Visit Record
- Child File Summary