Measuring Outcomes for Families: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a “Family Outcome”?
An “outcome” is defined as a benefit experienced as a result of services and supports received. Thus, an outcome is neither the receipt of services nor satisfaction withservices, but rather what happens as a result of services provided to children and families. Outcomes for children and outcomes for participating families are interdependent in that positive outcomesexperienced by the family serve to promote the child outcomes and outcomes achievedby the child benefit the family (EarlyChildhoodOutcomesCenter, 2005).
OSEP identified the following three family outcomes for inclusion in the State Performance Plan and subsequent Annual Performance Reports:
- Families will know their rights.
- Families will be able to effectively communicate their child’s needs.
- Families will be able to help their child develop and learn.
Why are we collecting information on family outcomes?
In response to reporting requirements established by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), as the designated lead agency for IDEA Part C must begin collecting and reporting data on family outcomes as part of our Annual Performance Report (APR).
How will data be collected on these three family outcomes?
The Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) Center was funded by OSEP to develop an approach forcollecting data on child and family outcomes for the Part C earlyintervention and Part B preschool programs of IDEA (Individualswith Disabilities Education Act). The Family Outcomes Survey is one product of the ECO center.
MDE, following the advice of the Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC), adopted the Family Outcome Survey to meet this new reporting requirement. Completed surveys will be mailed to MDE for analysis.
Who should receive the Family Outcomes Survey?
All families of children exiting Part Cshould receive the survey if the child and family have participated in early intervention services for 6 months or longer. Consider the total length of time the child and family have received service from your local system or any other local systems when deciding if a child has been in service for more than 6 months. This includes children who are exiting Part C for any of the following reasons:
- The child is turning 3 and is transitioning to services under Part B
- The child has been determined to no longer be a child with a disability following a reevaluation
- The family has decided to discontinue participating in Part C services
Do not include children who are moving from your district but who will begin receiving services in another district upon relocation.
Who should deliver the survey to a family?
The survey should be hand-delivered by the member of the IFSP team who has assumed primary responsibility for working with the family to meet the identified needs of the child and the family. In many instances, that person might be the service coordinator, the IFSP manager, or the primary service provider. The survey should be delivered as the child exists Part C. In most instances, this will be near the time of the child’s third birthday.
What should I tell a family when I given them a copy of the survey?
When delivering the survey to the family, please explain the following:
- This survey is part of a national program evaluation process.
- Each family’s participation in the Family Outcomes Survey process is voluntary.
- Information provided by Minnesota families will be combined and reported to the U.S. Department of Education as one indicator of the quality of Minnesota’s Early Intervention System.
- This information is necessary to ensure future funding of Early Intervention.
- Responses will be kept confidential and will used in combination with responses provided by other families to identify programs strengths and areas needing improvement.
It is important that the family be provided with a stamped envelope addressed to:
Early Intervention Program, Family Outcomes Survey
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
Please be certain that appropriate postage is provided for the size and type of envelope used and the method used in printing the survey—one sided or two sided.
How do I obtain necessary copies of the Family Outcomes Survey?
The designated member of the IFSP team should access the family outcomes survey from the MDE website at
The survey is available in two formats: as an Excel file or as a pdf. If the Excel file opens well and prints appropriately on your system, MDE recommends use of that version. Before printing the Excel version survey, the child’s MARSS number should be entered onto the bottom of page 2 of the survey. There are 13 active cells. If a MARSS number is entered appropriately, there should be no empty cells. The number should automatically copy itself onto all subsequent pages. If the pdf version is used, please enter the child’s MARSS number neatly into the appropriate spaces on the bottom of EACH PAGE of the survey, filling each cell with a numeral. It is important that the number appear on each page in case the pages become separated from one another.
What if the family speaks a language other than English?
MDE is working to have the survey available in multiple languages. A Spanish version is currently being piloted by ECO. MDE is working to have other languages available as soon as possible. In the meantime, if a child is turning 3 and the family speaks a language other than English, please utilize the services of a translator to facilitate the family’s participation in this performance evaluation activity.
How will data obtained from this activity be analyzed and reported?
MDE will track the response rate for individual districts, acknowledging that it is not reasonable to expect each family to choose to complete a survey. When participating families complete this survey and mail it to MDE in the envelope provided, it will be entered into a comprehensive data file for analysis. At a minimum, MDE will analyze the data necessary to report to OSEP on our Part C Annual Performance Report. As required by IDEA 2004, MDE will also include district performance on these indicators on future versions of the ECSE District Data Profile.
Who can I contact if I have additional questions on the Family Outcomes measurement and reporting process?
Please contact: Lisa Backer, ECSE Specialist
MN Department of Education
651.582.8473
Measuring Outcomes for Families Participating in Minnesota’s Early Intervention System: FAQ’s 4/05