Get to know who we are, what we stand for, and how we support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties.
We help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and their families—find the services they need to live well. From early support to help in adulthood, we’ll connect you with programs and resources that match your needs, interests, and goals, and support you throughout your entire life.
We’ll work closely with you to understand your goals and help you get the services you need. We’ll walk with you every step of the way, guide you through the process, and speak up for your needs—because you deserve to be seen, supported, and treated with care and respect.
Here you’ll find tools, guides, and helpful links to support your journey. Whether you’re just getting started or have been with us for years, these resources can help you learn more, prepare for meetings, and feel more confident making decisions.
We provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers who may have a developmental delay, or a high-risk condition that may lead to a delay. If your child qualifies for Early Start services, we will create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) to support your child’s needs and your family’s goals.
Early Start is California’s statewide program for babies and toddlers (birth up to 36 months) who may need early support. It ensures that eligible children and families get coordinated, family-centered support. This program is coordinated by regional centers and public school districts.
What is an IFSP?
If your child is eligible for Early Start services, then an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is created with your family. It outlines your child’s needs and the services that can help.
An IFSP may include:
Family resources
Priorities and concerns
A summary of your child’s current development levels
The service providers working with your child
Goals for your child’s development
Goals that support your family (based on your child’s needs)
Services your child may receive and where they will happen
How services will be funded
When your child is 2 years and 6 months old, the IFSP will include steps to help your child transition from Early Start services to preschool services. Your child may also need another eligibility assessment to see if they qualify for ongoing regional center services under the Lanterman Act.
A GGRC Social Worker will assemble an assessment team for your child based on developmental concerns. Your child’s eligibility is determined by a team of two or more professionals. Your assessment team may include:
GGRC Social Worker
Speech-Language Pathologist
GGRC Physician
GGRC Psychologist
GGRC Early Start Nurse
Other specialists (as needed)
Who Qualifies for Early Start?
GGRC’s Early Start Program serves infants and toddlers (birth to age 3 years) who meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. Significant Development Delay
A child may qualify if they have a delay of 25% or more areas of development, such as:
Thinking and learning (cognitive)
Physical (movement, vision, or hearing)
Communication (speech and language)
Social and emotional skills
Daily living skills (like feeding, dressing, or self-care)
2. Established At-Risk Conditions
Some children have a medical condition with a known cause that may lead to future developmental delays. These children may qualify based on that diagnosis.
3. Additional High-Risk Conditions
Some children may qualify if they have a condition that is likely to cause a developmental delay, as identified by a professional. While there are a number of high-risk conditions, some examples include:
Extremely low birthweight
History of abuse or neglect
Injury during birth
Other high-risk conditions
OR
A child may also qualify if they are the child of a person with a developmental disability and need early intervention services.
What to Expect After a Referral is Made
1
Eligibility
A GGRC Early Start Assessment Social Worker will be assigned to help your family through the eligibility and assessment process.
2
Assessment
A team of professionals will assess your child’s needs and decide if you are eligible for regional center services. This team may include parents, a GGRC social worker, a physician, a psychologist, and other professionals.
3
Create a Plan
If your child is qualifies, we’ll work with you to create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with your family. This includes goals for your child and family, as well as which services you’ll receive.
Time frame from referral to IFSP: 45 days
4
Receive Services
If your child is eligible for services, your family will receive continuous support through service coordination through an Early Start Social Worker.
There is no cost for the eligibility determination and assessment process.
If your child is deemed eligible, GGRC’s clinical team may recommend some additional evaluations. These evaluations are also provided at no cost to you. Families should use their health insurance or other resources first before GGRC pays for services. If no other funding is available, GGRC will help pay for your services.
Any expenses related to the use of health insurance for recommended services that occur after a child is determined eligible for Early Start may be eligible for reimbursement. This means families will initially pay for these insurance-funded services out of pocket. If a child is already receiving insurance-funded services, only those services that take place after the eligibility date will be eligible for reimbursement.
What services are available?
If your infant or toddler qualifies for regional center services, they may receive a variety of services based on their needs and your family’s capacity to meet their specific needs.
Early Start services are to be provided in natural environments whenever possible. Natural environments are settings that infants or toddlers of the same age without disabilities usual spend their time, like home, daycare, or in the community.
Services may include any of the following:
Speech therapy (to help with language skills)
Physical therapy (to help with movement and strength)
Occupational therapy (to help with daily living and working skills)
Family training, counseling, home visits, and special instruction
Medical services for diagnostic or evaluation
Health screening services
Social work services
Vision services
Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services
Psychological and counseling services
Transportation
Service coordination services
The IFSP is reviewed every 6 months, or sooner if your family requests it. This helps your team discuss any concerns you may have and review your child’s progress. You can choose whether you’d like to have these meetings in person (at home, daycare, or elsewhere), on Zoom, or telephone. Your Early Start Social Worker will also check in between meetings for a quick quarterly update. You can also call them anytime if you have questions or want to talk about services.
For more information on eligibility or other services available for Early Start children and families, please contact us.
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