Early Start
Young Child (Birth to Age 5)
Early Intervention, or Early Start, is a statewide program that aims to support young children with developmental disabilities and their families. This program is designed to assist infants and toddlers in meeting developmental milestones, provide education to families, and to aid the transition to school-based services.
Some services to consider include:
- Occupational therapy
- Family training
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Social work
- Feeding therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Care Coordination
Service Providers and Regional Centers
The services listed above are provided through a network of community-based, nonprofit agencies known as Regional Centers, that each cover a different geographic area. Evaluation and treatment are provided free of charge!
You can find your nearest Regional Center with the California Department of Developmental Services Regional Center Lookup
Overview of Early Intervention and further information by state can be found using this link.
CDC's Recommendation for Developmental Milestones can be found using this link.
How to Contact Your Regional Center
Per CDC guidelines, if your child is under the age of 3, you can call your states Early Intervention/Early Start program to inquire about these services. When contacting your states program, you can say:
"l have concerns about my child's development and I would like to have my child evaluated to find out if they are eligible for early intervention services."
Please note: a doctors referral is NOT necessary to access these services.