What are
Regional Centers?
The Department of Developmental Services
is responsible for designing and coordinating a wide array of
services for California residents with developmental
disabilities. These services are provided through a statewide
system of 21 locally-based regional centers. Regional centers
are nonprofit private corporations that have offices throughout
California to provide a local resource to help find and access
the many services available to individuals with developmental
disabilities and their families. Both geographic accessibility
and population density were considered when selecting locations
for the 21 regional centers. The catchment area boundaries for
the regional centers conform to county boundaries or groups of
counties, except in Los Angeles County, which is divided into
seven areas, each served by a regional center.
What services
are provided by Regional Centers?
- Information and referral
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Counseling
- Lifelong individualized
planning and service coordination
- Purchase of necessary
services included in the individual program plan
- Assistance in finding and
using community and other resources
- Advocacy for the protection
of legal, civil and service rights
- Early intervention services
for at risk infants and their families
- Genetic counseling
- Family support
- Planning, placement, and
monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care
- Training and educational
opportunities for individuals and families
- Community education about
developmental disabilities
What do
Regional Center services cost?
There is no charge for diagnosis and assessment for eligibility.
Once eligibility is determined, most services are free
regardless of age or income. There is a requirement for parents
to share the cost of 24-hour out-of-home placements for children
under age 18. This share depends on the parents' ability to pay.
There may also be a co-payment requirement for other selected
services.
Regional centers are required by law to
provide services in the most cost-effective way possible. they
must use all other resources, including generic resources,
before using any regional center funds. A generic resource is a
service provided by an agency which has a legal responsibility
to provide services to the general public and receives public
funds for providing those services. Some generic agencies you
might be referred to are the local school district, county
social services department, Medi-Cal, Social Security
Administration, Department of Rehabilitation and others. Other
resources may include natural supports. This is help that you
may get from family, friends or others at little or no cost.
What can the
Regional Center do for me?
Regional centers help coordinate the
services that are needed because of a developmental disability.
This is called case management or service coordination. A case
manager or service coordinator will be assigned to help you. He
or she will help develop a plan for services, tell you where
services are available, and help you get the services.
How do I know
what services will be provided?
The regional center uses a planning process called an Individual
Program Plan (IPP). For children age 0 to 36 months this process
is called the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). The plan is
prepared by regional center staff and the individual or the
parents of a minor child, a guardian or conservator (if any), or
anyone else the individual invites to participate.
The IPP (or IFSP) lists goals and the
services needed to reach those goals. It lists who will provide
the service and who will pay for it. All services listed in the
IPP will be provided either by a generic or natural resource, a
regional center vendor (a business approved by the regional
center) or directly by the regional center.
Where can I get
more information?
To
obtain more information about services available for individuals
with developmental disabilities you may contact your local
regional center.
