Early Start (Ages 0-3)

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.

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Types of Services
Assessment
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Understanding California’s Early Start Program

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.

Apply for Regional Center Services
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Start With An Assessment

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. 

How much does the application process cost?

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.

Two year old girl with Down Syndrome spending time drawing with her mother on a sheet of paper at the table.

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.

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