Objectives (Outcomes)
Objectives (outcomes) are the smaller levels of accomplishment needed to take the child from where he/she is right now to where the team ultimately wants him/her to be. While goals are the broader statements projecting the child's progress, objectives are the markers of progress along the way to the goal. Objectives (outcomes) are more specific and the work towards them is shorter in duration. The goal defines the road on which you are traveling. When writing objectives (outcomes), think, "Realistically, how far down that road will we get in the next ____?" The blank can be filled in with the desired time period (e.g., one month, six weeks, one term).
If strengths and needs are linked with the goals as
described, then the "strength" listed for each goal can represent the starting
point, where the child is now. The identified "needs" can then become translated
to a goal.
The specific details related to the services provided by the community health nurse, the behavior management specialist, the social worker, the physiotherapist, teacher or any other service provider who may be involved, are written by them after the team meeting. These specific details are the day-to-day planning component of the ISSP and are within the expertise of each service provider to determine. The goals agreed upon at the team meeting and contained in the ISSP are the unifying feature which ensure that each provider's outcomes work in concert. Each service provider will maintain a record of their services and provide relevant information re progress at each ISSP meeting.