Regional Center Intake Assistance
Guiding You Every Step of the Way
Families United is dedicated to helping families navigate the Regional Center intake process, ensuring that individuals with developmental disabilities receive the support and services they deserve. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) oversees regional centers and sets eligibility guidelines for accessing these services.
As your partner in this journey, we provide hands-on guidance, clear explanations in plain language, and practical next steps, so you can navigate the Regional Center intake process with confidence—from the initial call to the eligibility decision and service initiation. If you’re looking for Regional Center intake assistance, Regional Center intake support, or simply regional center intake help, you’re in the right place. Families are invited to learn more about the intake process and developmental disabilities through the resources we provide.
How We Help
Navigating the system can be challenging, which is why we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Families United also helps manage referrals to regional centers, ensuring your inquiry is directed to the right contact for eligibility evaluation and service coordination.
We assist families in accessing Regional Center services by explaining the intake and assessment process, including how to submit an application and supporting documents to begin.
We also help you understand what to expect during the eligibility evaluation, while emphasizing the importance of responding promptly to phone calls and emails from regional centers to keep the process moving smoothly.
In addition, we provide guidance on gathering the necessary paperwork and documentation, and support you in communicating effectively with intake coordinators or case managers.
We structure your path from the very beginning. This includes preparing a concise family story, assisting families in signing necessary consent forms, gathering key evaluations (if available), and confirming referral pathways for Regional Center Services.
We’ll outline who to contact, how to apply for services, what to expect during the screening process, and how to track timelines so nothing slips through the cracks.
Families can apply for regional center services by submitting a request for evaluation. They may also need to send information or inquiries via email to the Intake Coordinator to facilitate communication and coordinate services.
Our specialists translate policy into action. We walk you through the criteria and documentation required for the eligibility determination process—this is practical regional center eligibility assistance designed to reduce rework, avoid delays, and ensure your application clearly reflects your child’s needs.
For early intervention, the early start eligibility determination process may involve specific timelines, such as a 45-day period, and includes assessments to evaluate your child's developmental and medical information.
We clarify which documents are required for eligibility determination and assist you in gathering and organizing them. Our specialists help assess your child's eligibility for services, guiding you through each step to ensure all necessary information is included.
If your child is 3–5 years old, we’ll clarify how provisional eligibility works, when to request it, and which records help decision-makers act quickly. Children may be referred to regional centers by schools or physicians, and gathering records from schools, such as Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), is important for the assessment process.
We also connect the dots between Early Start intake (birth–3) and school-age services, ensuring a seamless transition in support. A service coordinator will help guide families through the transition and planning process.
What this means for you: fewer surprises, clear action items, and steady progress toward services. Our team provides reminders, checklists, and advocacy language you can reuse in calls and emails.
What is Provisional Eligibility
Provisional eligibility is a temporary qualification offered to children ages 3 to 5, allowing them to access critical Regional Center Services while their developmental needs are being evaluated. It serves as an important bridge to support early intervention, ensuring children receive timely care without delays.
How we make it easier: We help you request provisional eligibility when appropriate, organize recent assessments, and outline next steps for follow-up evaluations. If your child is nearing age 3, we’ll also plan the handoff from Early Start intake to school-age pathways—so therapies and supports continue without interruption.
When questions about statutes arise, we provide plain-English explanations and equip you to ask for Lanterman Act eligibility help during meetings.
Why Regional Center Services Matter
Regional Center Services connect individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to the support they need. These services help people access resources, early intervention, education, and personalized care that improve quality of life.
By guiding families through every step, Regional Centers empower individuals to achieve greater independence and reach their full potential in the community.
Our Approach
Please note that individuals with solely learning disabilities may not be eligible for certain developmental disability services unless additional qualifying conditions are present. With guidance from Families United, families can select the services or supports that best fit their needs.
Service 1: Individualized Support
What we add: A step-by-step plan that breaks the Regional Center intake process into simple milestones—initial call, intake meeting, assessments (if needed), eligibility decision, and service start. You’ll know what to prepare for each step and how to follow up.
Service 2: Advocacy
What we add: Coaching for key conversations (what to say, what to bring), help drafting concise emails, and guidance on how to request case reviews or second opinions when needed. If you need Regional Center intake support during meetings, we can attend and advocate on your behalf.
Service 3: Documentation Assistance
What we add: A clean file with essentials (evaluations, medical notes, school reports, and family observations) plus a short “needs summary” written in clear, objective language. This is a practical regional center intake help that reduces back-and-forth and keeps timelines on track.
Get Started with Families United
Our team of experts is here to simplify the Regional Center intake process and ensure that your family receives the help it needs as quickly as possible. With our support, you’ll have the tools and guidance to confidently navigate each step toward accessing essential services for your loved one.