Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC) is 1 of 21 regional centers in the State of California. Each regional center is a private non-profit entity on contract with California’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The regional center system was developed through parent advocacy in the 1960s in an effort to ensure that families had the support they needed to care for their loved ones at home and for opportunities for independence in the community.
Regional Centers provide intake and assessment services for eligibility for two programs: Early Start (ages birth to 36 months) as defined in Section 95014 of the California Government Code and Lanterman (ages 3 through the lifespan) as defined in Section 4512 of the Lanterman Act.
Once a person is eligible for regional center services, the regional center will assign a Service Coordinator to you, or your eligible family member. Your service coordinator will assist you with advocacy, case management, referral to generic resources (those available generally to the public, or through insurance or Medicaid/Medi-Cal) and vendored, (those funded by the regional center) and provide assistance navigating complex systems.
Early Start Services
During Early Start eligibility, services such as an Infant Development Program, Speech and Language therapies, Occupational and Physical therapies will be identified through a Person-centered Planning meeting with you, your child, your regional center Service Coordinator and infant development professionals (such as the school district). The services and supports you need as a family will be documented in an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The IFSP identifies who is responsible for providing the service and which entity is responsible for funding the service. The primary goal in Early Start is to give infants and toddlers who have an identified developmental delay, or who are at risk for a developmental delay a robust intervention program which meets their needs and takes advantage of the neuroplasticity of the brain. Approximately 50% of children served by CVRC in Early Start go on to be eligible under Lanterman services at age three.
Lanterman Services
Once a child (age 3 or older), teen or adult is determined eligible under the Lanterman Act criteria, services such as Respite, Behavioral Services, Adult Day Program opportunities, Employment opportunities, Independent and Supported Living Services, Residential Placement options including Family Home Agencies will be identified through a Person-centered Planning meeting with you, your parent, guardian or conservator, your regional center Service Coordinator and anyone else you choose to invite. The services and supports you identify as being important for you in assisting you in achieving your hopes and dreams, and also which are supportive to your health and safety needs are documented in an Individual Program Plan (IPP). The IPP identifies who is responsible for providing the service and which entity is responsible for funding the service.