Early Start Program
Early Start is a statewide system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers, from birth to 36 months of age, with disabilities or at risk of having disabilities and their families. Services are provided in a family-centered, multidisciplinary, interagency, and community-based system. California's Early Start system is governed by federal and state statutes and regulations. Parents have rights and access to procedural safeguards to assure that early intervention services are provided in a manner appropriate to the child's needs and concerns of the family.
Confidentiality and Access to Records
Early Start records are an important source of information about your child. The information you provide the regional center or local education agency (LEA) about your child and your family is confidential. Such information will only be shared with authorized persons involved in your child's services.
Evaluation and Assessment
The determination of eligibility for Early Start in California includes a timely, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary evaluation and assessment of every child under age three years who is suspected to be in need of early intervention services. If no parent or guardian is available or the child is a ward of the court, a knowledgeable surrogate parent who has no conflicting interest will be appointed. Procedural safeguards ensure that families are provided their rights under the law.
Individualized Family Service Plan
An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan for providing early intervention services to an eligible child and the child's family. For an infant or toddler who has been evaluated for the first time, a meeting must take place within 45 days of the referral to the regional center or LEA to share the results of the evaluation, to determine eligibility, and, for children who are eligible, to develop the initial IFSP. Evaluation results and determination of eligibility may be shared with families prior to the first IFSP meeting.
A periodic review of your child's IFSP must take place at least every six months. A review may occur more frequently if there are any changes to the IFSP or if you request a periodic review with the regional center or LEA. The IFSP must also be reviewed annually to evaluate how your child is doing and to make any needed changes to the IFSP.
Complaints, Mediation, and Due Process Hearings
In Early Start, parents have rights and protections to resolve disagreements related to Early Start services or allegations that a federal or state statute or regulation has been violated. The following procedures are only for children under the age of three years.
As a parent, guardian, or surrogate parent you have the right to:
Request a mediation conference and/or a due process hearing any time a regional center or LEA proposes or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, assessment, placement, and/or provision of appropriate early intervention service(s); be informed of your right to file a complaint; and file a complaint if you believe there has been a violation of any law governing early intervention services under Early Start.
National Early Head Start - Services for children birth to age 3 years.
Mathematica (Policy Research Site) This site has information, articles and surveys on every topic involving children's rights, disability, and early intervention.
