Family, Infant and Preschool Program

What Family, Infant and Preschool Program does

Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) is a North Carolina state government program established in 1972 and operated under the Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities within the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Headquartered at the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center in Morganton, FIPP provides direct early childhood intervention services — including evaluation, therapy, parenting support, and assistive technology — to families with children from birth to age five in five western North Carolina counties (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and McDowell). With a team of approximately eight employees organized into Leadership, Research, Medical Supports, Developmental Services, Assistive Technology, and Operations functions, FIPP also operates as an international research and training institute and a community-based model demonstration program.

FIPP's intellectual property portfolio centers on evidence-based early childhood intervention practices and comprises the CASE Publications Suite (CASEinPoint journal articles, CASEmakers bibliographies, CASEtools instruments and scales, BriefCASE guides, CASEcollections), a set of Fidelity-in-Practice assessment tools (FIP-EI, FIP-PSP, FIP-MC) that measure practitioner adherence to evidence-based practices, and an implementation toolkit including the Roadmap for Assessing Meaningful Participation (RAMP), Child Interest and Activity Plan (CIAP), Newborn Interest, Activity and Assessment Plan (NIAAP), H-U-G-S Interaction Style, Roadmaps for Reflection, At-A-Glance Guides, the PSP Worksheet, and the Joint Visit Planning Tool. Professional development is delivered via eLearning modules, fidelity coach certification, internships, on-site observation visits (with complimentary guest cottage accommodations), and individual or group coaching engagements.

FIPP's business model is bifurcated: direct family services in western North Carolina are state-funded with no cost to recipients, while professional development offerings (certifications, publications, training, internships) are extended nationally and internationally to early intervention practitioners, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Distribution relies on organic reach through professional networks, conferences, webinars, and referrals via the FIPP website, JotForm referral system, Google Forms interest forms, and social channels (Facebook, YouTube). The program operates with no external shareholders, no venture backing, and full operational control residing with the State of North Carolina through its designated health and human services agency.

Name

Family, Infant and Preschool Program

Legal name

The Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP)

Website

https://fipp.ncdhhs.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

State government program providing evidence-based early childhood intervention services to families with children birth to five in five western North Carolina counties, while operating as an international research and training institute publishing fidelity tools, certifications, and eLearning for early intervention practitioners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Intervention Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), Inclusive Infant & Toddler Care (Special Needs / IFSP-Aligned) (EDACAGAI), Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO)

Keywords

• Early childhood intervention
• Family-centered services
• Evidence-based practices
• Professional development training
• Fidelity assessment tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Morganton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FIPP provides family-centered early intervention services to families of children from birth to five years with and without disabilities in western North Carolina, including evaluation, therapy, parenting supports, and assistive technologies. It also operates as an international research and training institute, offering evidence-based practice tools, publications (CASE suite), fidelity assessment instruments, certifications, internships, and on-site observation opportunities for early intervention practitioners worldwide.

Product overview

The Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) offers a comprehensive portfolio of evidence-based early childhood intervention products and services. The core offerings include the CASE Publications Suite (CASEinPoint, CASEmakers, CASEtools, BriefCASE, and CASEcollections) which are web-based publications and tools for understanding evidence-based practices. FIPP provides three main fidelity measurement tools: Fidelity-in-Practice – Early Intervention (FIP-EI), Fidelity-in-Practice – Primary Service Provider (FIP-PSP), and Fidelity-in-Practice – Mentor Coach (FIP-MC). The implementation toolkit includes the Roadmap for Assessing Meaningful Participation (RAMP), Child Interest and Activity Plan (CIAP), Newborn Interest Activity and Assessment Plan (NIAAP), H-U-G-S Interaction Style, Family Resource Support Guide, Roadmaps for Reflection series, At-A-Glance Guides, PSP Worksheet, and Joint Visit Planning Tool. Professional development is delivered through eLearning modules, certifications, internships, coaching services, and on-site observation opportunities. The To The Point series provides infographics and videos as quick-reference resources. These products work together as an integrated system for early intervention practitioners to assess, implement, and measure adherence to family-centered, capacity-building practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct Family Early Intervention Services Home and community-based early intervention services for families of children from birth to five years with and without disabilities in western North Carolina, including evaluation and therapy, newborn support, parenting and behavior supports, and assistive technologies. Delivered by FIPP team members across Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and McDowell counties.
• CASE Publications Suite Comprehensive suite of web-based publications including CASEinPoint (journal articles), CASEmakers (bibliographies), CASEtools (instruments and scales), BriefCASE (concise how-to guides), and CASEcollections (themed groupings of resources) that advance understanding of evidence-based practices in early childhood intervention. Designed for early intervention practitioners and program leaders.
• Fidelity-in-Practice – Early Intervention (FIP-EI) Practice checklists for evaluating practitioner alignment with evidence-based early childhood intervention practices, including coaching practices, natural learning environment practices, and resource-based practices. Each checklist includes ten individual indicators describing key aspects of each practice area. Used by early intervention practitioners and fidelity coaches.
• Fidelity-in-Practice – Primary Service Provider (FIP-PSP) Checklists for evaluating teaming practices unique to the primary service provider approach to teaming, including indicators for establishing PSP teams, team operations, team meetings, and joint visits. Used by early intervention teams implementing the primary service provider model.
• Fidelity-in-Practice – Mentor Coach (FIP-MC) Practice checklist assessing the use of a capacity-building coaching interaction style while coaching a practitioner towards fidelity. Part of the Fidelity Coach Toolkit used by coaches and leaders who have completed the Early Intervention Fidelity Coach Certification Institute.
• Roadmap for Assessing Meaningful Participation (RAMP) Assessment tool to assist parents and early intervention providers in identifying and analyzing interest-based opportunities to promote child development and functional participation prior to IFSP development, using a three-part conversation framework and coaching interaction style.
• Child Interest and Activity Plan (CIAP) Step-by-step observation planning guide for early intervention practitioners and families to promote child learning during everyday activities and routines, using natural learning environment practices and coaching interaction style to build parent capabilities.
• Newborn Interest, Activity and Assessment Plan (NIAAP) Step-by-step guide for practitioners and families with newborns up to six months, supporting parents with identifying infant cues regarding interests and needs during daily activities and identifying how different responses affect infants.
• H-U-G-S Interaction Style Framework (Hear, Understand, Give, Social-Emotional learning) designed to support practitioners in helping caregivers foster children's social-emotional development through responsive, co-regulated interactions, with coaching guidance and caregiver resources.
• Family Resource Support Guide Planning and documentation tool for early intervention service coordinators to develop and support families through a strengths-based process of identifying priorities, developing plans, and building family capacity to accomplish goals.
• Roadmaps for Reflection: Child Learning Series Flow chart-based conversation guides to help professionals implement a coaching interaction style for promoting child learning during interest-based routines and activities, serving as implementation guides to promote fidelity to target practices.
• Roadmaps for Reflection: Resources & Support Series Flow chart-based conversation guides demonstrating how practitioners can use capacity-building coaching characteristics to support families around material resources, health and wellness resources, and child developmental resources.
• At-A-Glance Guides One-page descriptions of the characteristics that define practices or sets of practices including natural learning environment practices, coaching, resource-based practices, primary service provider approach to teaming, and evidence-based practices.
• Worksheet for Selecting the Most Likely Primary Service Provider (PSP) Worksheet used by PSP teams to make decisions about the most appropriate primary service provider for a family, including prompts to discuss parent/family, child, environmental, and practitioner factors.
• Joint Visit Planning Tool Tool used by primary service providers and secondary service providers to prepare for joint visits with families, helping guide conversations and ensure interactions are focused on supporting children within everyday life contexts.
• To The Point Series of infographics, short videos, and montages designed to assist early intervention practitioners in understanding and implementing evidence-based practices, covering topics including caregiver coaching, natural learning environment practices, tele-intervention, and family-centered practices.
• Early Intervention Series: Family-Centered Practices (eLearning) Awareness level eLearning module introducing practitioners to capacity-building family-centered practices, covering characteristics of family-centered practices and benefits of relational and participatory help-giving strategies. Part of the broader Early Intervention eLearning Series which also includes modules on Natural Learning Environment Practices, Coaching Practices in Early Intervention, Primary Service Provider, and Capacity-Building Service Coordination Practices.
• Internship Program Onsite clinical and research internships for professionals and students seeking to learn while working with FIPP staff members, lasting from four weeks to one year, with housing assistance available. Attracts international visitors and trainees.
• See FIPP in Action On-site observation opportunities for early intervention practitioners to visit FIPP, observe team meetings and staff at work, paired with seasoned FIPP practitioners based on visitor objectives. Includes complimentary guest cottage accommodations.
• Request a Professional Development Coach Individual or group coaching supports provided by FIPP staff members as part of professional development opportunities, including follow-up to training and program leadership for promoting continuous improvement.
• Early Intervention Fidelity Coach Certification Certification institute and follow-up process for early intervention practitioners and Part C lead agency teams seeking to assess local early intervention program fidelity and assist with forward movement. Adopted by teams such as the Ohio EI Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transforms organizational approaches to ensuring high quality services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WestEd: Nonprofit research, development, and service agency that produces evidence-based professional development and training resources for early childhood educators, paralleling FIPP's professional development and publication products.
• ZERO TO THREE: National nonprofit organization focused on infant and toddler development, providing training, professional development, and published resources — operates at a broader national scale than FIPP but in the same child-0–5 intervention and family support category.
• Bank Street College of Education: Graduate institution known for early childhood education research, publications, and professional development programs serving the same practitioner audience as FIPP's training and certification offerings.

Direct peers

• National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI): Federally funded center that develops training materials, implementation tools, and eLearning modules for early childhood programs — comparable to FIPP's H-U-G-S Interaction Style, Fidelity-in-Practice tools, and CASE Publications Suite.
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center): Federally funded center that provides technical assistance, training, and resources on early intervention and early childhood special education, comparable to FIPP's role as a state-level research and training institute for IDEA Part C.
• Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG): University-based research and training institute at UNC focused on early childhood development, disabilities, and evidence-based practices — comparable in mission, product development (e.g., professional development resources), and training institute credentials.

Emerging players

• Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy): Technical assistance center supporting state Part C and Section 619 data systems, overlapping with FIPP's practitioner-facing mission in the Part C early intervention ecosystem.

Others

• Brookes Publishing: Publisher of evidence-based early intervention, special education, and early childhood resources — analogous to FIPP's CASE Publications product line as a publisher of practitioner-facing evidence-based content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FamilyInfantPreschoolProgram
• Facebookfacebook.com/FamilyInfantPreschoolProgram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-infant-and-preschool-program

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Family, Infant and Preschool Program