Qualifying for Services

Infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months old may be eligible for services if an evaluation confirms that they have a developmental delay, or a condition that puts them at high-risk for developing a delay.

Fill out a Referral Form

If you are concerned about a child’s development, refer them to GGRC. After we get your referral, we’ll assign a GGRC Social Worker to your case. They will send you information and forms to fill out prior to a home visit.

Apply for Regional Center Services

Assessment for Eligibility

We guide you through each step of this process. We’ll assemble a team to evaluate your child’s support needs. Your team will include a GGRC Social Worker and may include the following:

• Speech-Language Pathologist
• GGRC Physician
• GGRC Early Start Nurse
• Other professionals as necessary

You will receive notification telling you the results of your child’s eligibility assessment.

Create a Personalized Plan

If you’re eligible for Early Start services, we’ll work with you to make a plan that focuses on your goals, strengths, and support needs. We call this an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The IFSP identifies your priorities and concerns, and lists the services that best meet your family’s needs.

Receive Services

Once your IFSP is in place, you can start receiving the services listed in it! These services may be provided directly through a Service Provider or purchased through GGRC. Examples of common Early Start Services you might receive may include: speech therapy, physical therapy, and other early intervention services.

Your GGRC team will check in regularly with you to make sure the services you’re receiving continue to meet your support needs and grow with your goals.

Qualifying for Services

To receive services under the Lanterman Act, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. This helps us determine who is eligible for long-term support through the Regional Center.

To qualify, you must have a developmental disability that:

• Started before age 18
• Is expected to continue indefinitely
• Is substantially disabling in at least 3 areas
• Is due to one of the following conditions: intellectual disability or similar, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or autism

There may be additional factors that contribute to determining eligibility for services.

Provisional Eligibility

Children under 5 years old may be provisionally eligible if they have serious challenges in at least 2 of the 3 areas. Provisional services end at age 5. Your child will be reassessed before age 5 to see if they still qualify for ongoing services under the Lanterman Act.

Fill out referral form

After GGRC receives your referral form, an Intake Specialist will call you to learn more about your needs. GGRC will review this information and contact you about next steps in the intake process. Next steps may include a request to provide additional records, and completion of an application and consent forms.

For professionals referring someone else: The person being referred or their legal representative must provide their consent to GGRC for Intake and Assessment services. Without written consent, sharing information is limited to confirmation of referral receipt. Any additional information requires a signed release of information form.

Apply for Regional Center Services

Assessment for Eligibility

GGRC is here to guide you through each step of this process. After we receive your forms, GGRC will assign an Assessment Social Worker to your case and contact you to schedule a home visit.

Your Assessment Social Worker will ask for records that document your disability. A team made up of your Assessment Social Worker, Psychologist, and Physician will then complete an eligibility assessment. This assessment process may take up to 120 days.

You will receive notification telling you the results of your eligibility assessment.

Create a Personalized Plan

If you qualify for regional center services you will be assigned a GGRC Social Worker. Your social worker will work with you to create a plan that’s centered around your strengths, support needs and priorities for your life. We call this process Person-Centered Planning, which leads to your Individual Program Plan (IPP). The IPP sets your long-term goals, short-term goals and lists the services you need to help you live the life you want.

Receive Services

Once your IPP is in place, you can begin receiving the services described in your plan! Examples of Lanterman services may include: day programs, job support, housing services, transportation, and social recreation services.