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| Early Start (California) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Early Start (California) |
| Type | Early intervention program |
| Established | 1990s |
| Jurisdiction | State of California |
| Administered by | California Department of Developmental Services |
| Target population | Infants and toddlers with developmental delays and at risk |
| Services | Early intervention, family training, therapeutic services |
Early Start (California) Early Start is California's statewide early intervention program serving infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. The program links local regional centers, California Department of Developmental Services, United States Department of Education, Americans with Disabilities Act, and related IDEA Part C frameworks to provide coordinated assessments and services. Early Start interfaces with hospitals such as Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, agencies like California Children's Services, and advocacy groups including Autism Society of America, The Arc, and Parents Helping Parents.
Early Start developed from federal and state policy shifts in the late 20th century, including Education for All Handicapped Children Act reform, the enactment of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and California's implementation through the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. Stakeholders included California State Legislature, California Department of Developmental Services, and county-level public health departments collaborating with special education leaders from institutions such as University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and University of Southern California. Pilot programs drew on models from Project Head Start, Early Head Start, and research from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and university-based pediatric neurology centers. Over time, amendments to IDEA Part C regulations and California budgetary actions shaped eligibility criteria and service delivery, with influence from litigations, stakeholder coalitions, and guidance from Office of Special Education Programs.
Eligibility is determined through multidisciplinary assessment by regional centers under criteria tied to developmental delay benchmarks and diagnosed conditions listed in IDEA Part C. Referrals originate from sources including neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), pediatricians in clinics such as Kaiser Permanente, community health centers affiliated with California Primary Care Association, early care providers linked to Child Care Resource & Referral, and family self-referral via organizations like Family Voices. Enrollment processes involve partnerships with county health departments, public health clinics, and entities such as Child Find initiatives and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA). Criteria reflect medical diagnoses recognized by American Academy of Pediatrics and developmental assessments used by research centers like Salk Institute and RAND Corporation.
Services encompass evaluation, individualized family service plans (IFSPs), family training, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and assistive technology delivered in home, community, and clinical settings. Providers include licensed professionals from California Department of Public Health registries, clinicians affiliated with hospitals such as Children's Hospital Los Angeles, therapists trained through programs at San Diego State University, and nonprofit providers like Easterseals. Coordination occurs with Special Education Local Plan Areas and early childhood programs such as Early Head Start, Head Start, and community-based organizations like YWCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Services also incorporate screening tools validated by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and developmental measures used in studies funded by National Institutes of Health.
Funding streams combine state appropriations from the California State Budget, federal funds under IDEA Part C, and Medi-Cal billing through California Department of Health Care Services. Administration is primarily through the California Department of Developmental Services which contracts with local regional centers such as Golden Gate Regional Center, Regional Center of the East Bay, and Los Angeles Regional Center. Financial oversight involves California State Controller's Office audits, legislative budget committees, and policy guidance from Governor of California offices. Supplemental financing and grants have been awarded by private foundations including the Gates Foundation and research funding agencies such as National Science Foundation for program evaluation projects.
Outcome monitoring uses measures of developmental progress, family outcomes, and service access tracked by regional data systems tied to IDEA Part C reporting to Office of Special Education Programs. Evaluations leverage methodologies from RAND Corporation, Child Trends, and academic centers at University of California, Davis and University of California, Irvine. Studies examine impacts on language development, motor skills, and parent-child interactions, referencing evidence compiled by National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine). Outcome data inform policy discussions in venues including California State Assembly hearings and reports to the United States Department of Education.
Implementation varies across counties with service delivery managed by regional centers, county public health departments, community clinics, and nonprofit agencies. Examples include collaborations between Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Los Angeles Regional Center, joint initiatives in San Diego County with San Diego Regional Center, and integrated models in Alameda County connecting Alameda County Social Services Agency and East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation. Local implementation adapts to demographics served in areas like San Francisco County, Sacramento County, and Riverside County, interfacing with tribal entities such as California Native American Heritage Commission and immigrant-serving groups like Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
Early Start operates within the legal framework of IDEA Part C, state statutes including the Lanterman Act, and state budgetary decisions by the California State Legislature. Legislative oversight involves committees such as the California Assembly Committee on Education and legal interpretations by offices including California Department of Justice. Policy debates engage stakeholders like Disability Rights California, provider associations, and parent advocacy groups, and are influenced by federal regulatory actions from the United States Department of Health and Human Services and case law under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Continuous policy evolution reflects research findings from centers like Urban Institute and recommendations from advisory bodies such as the Early Childhood Policy Research Consortium.
Category:Early childhood intervention in California