Early Start Plus

The Family Focus Resource Center, a sponsored program of CSUN, serves families of children with disabilities. We are the contracted Family Resource Center for North Los Angeles County Regional Center, providing support and information to families of children from birth-3 who are eligible for Early Start services. With the end of the Prevention Resources & Referral Services program, the Department of Developmental Services and the Family Resource Centers of California created Early Start Plus to provide supplemental services and outreach to families of children ages birth-3 who may be eligible for Early Start. Primary activities under this program will include: 1) Outreach to underserved communities in geographic, ethnic, or Special populations such as families experiencing homelessness 2) Outreach to professionals to provide parent support, including emotional and resource support, development of parent training curricula, developmental screenings in the community developmental screening FFRC staff and CSUN students who are Master's level students in Special Education or Speech and Language are trained in proper administration of the tools. FFRC staff and CSUN students are bilingual in English and Spanish. Screenings are conducted in 15 minutes; if the child's screening indicates a need for a formal evaluation, the family is referred for a complete developmental assessment and follow-up by FFRC staff. Staffing Overview is the role of the Principal Investigator. Faculty/Developmental Screenings Coordinator coordinates the screening events with partners and oversees the screening process at events. Graduate Student Assistants (4) ? conduct the screenings; score screening instruments and collect data. The FFRC Staff (6) conduct outreach and follow up with families whose children are identified as needing further evaluation after screenings to make sure they act on the referral; provide community resources.