Special Needs & Disabilities


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I THINK MY CHILD NEEDS SERVICES...
greyarrow: KCSOS Search & Serve
1300 17th Street
City Centre
Bakersfield, CA 93301-4533
Tel: 661.636.4817
Fax: 661.636.4810
E-mail: Sandy Jackson, Coordinator
Every call results in a personal contact. The Search and Serve office will screen each contact and make a referral to the most appropriate source of evaluation and services for the child. Requests for screening and referrals are made to appropriate schools, agencies, and other resources that will assist the child to receive an assessment and recommendations.The referral could be directed to a speech pathologist, the local school district, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office or other educational and community resources.

greyarrow: H.E.A.R.T.S Connection

  • Parent-to-Parent Support
  • Mentor Program
  • Support Groups
  • Parent Trainings
  • IEP Clinics
  • Facilitated IEPs
  • Sibling Retreats/Activities
  • Resource Libraries
  • Family Social Events
Meetings are held monthly throughout Kern County for family members and friends. Meetings provide information on organizations and services and opportunities to meet other families to share joys, challenges and information. For more information, please call 661.328.9055.

greyarrow: Kern Early Start Program
There is no cost for services from the Early Start Services Program. If you think you know an infant or toddler with a need for special interventions, you may obtain more information or make a referral by calling one of the following agencies:


Kern Early Start is a multi-agency collaborative program designed to provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers from birth until age three. Infants and toddlers should be referred if they have:

  • Problems due to premature birth
  • Significant learning or muscle tone problems
  • Identified conditions such as Down's Syndrome or cerebral palsy
  • Been seriously ill
  • Developmental delays in one or more areas such as walking or talking
  • Born to parents needing assistance due to their own special needs

The Kern Early Start Program provides many services and is designed to simplify the process of obtaining help by providing a one step referral and identification process.

greyarrow: Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic
The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic provides the services and resources necessary to prevent and treat emotional and behavioral problems for Kern County children and their families. For more information or to make an initial appointment, please call the Child Guidance Clinic at 661.322.1021, Bakersfield or 661.725.1042, Delano.

greyarrow: Kern Regional Center (KRC)
Any person in Kern, Inyo or Mono Counties who is believed to have, or be at risk of having a developmental disability may receive an assessment. Individuals of all ages, regardless of income, who are diagnosed as having a developmental disability are eligible to receive service coordination services.

KRC services include: diagnosis and evaluation, advocacy, community resource development, ongoing developmental screening for high risk infants, life-long service coordination, prevention programs, program evaluation and quality assurance and parent support services. Please call 661.327.8531 in Bakersfield and 760.375.9512 in Ridgecrest.

greyarrow: Bakersfield City School District, Special Education Division (Grades K-8)
Please call 661.631.5863.

greyarrow: Kern High School District, Special Education Division (Grades 9-12)
Please call 661.827.3105

greyarrow: Sierra Sands Unified School District-SELPA
Please call 760.375.3923

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD CARE
greyarrow: Caring Corner
942 Wible Rd.
Bakersfield, CA 93304
Tel: 661-847-7342
Fax: 661-847-7346
Pediatric Day Care for Medically fragile children.

greyarrow: Darlyn's Darlings
4801 Truxtun Ave. Suite #200
Bakersfield, CA 93309
Tel: 661.631.CARE (2273)
Fax: 661.631.2278
The only Family and RN owned healthcare center for special children with medical needs in the Central Valley. Daycare and respite services for individuals with special needs from birth to 21 years of age. Children will receive services with respect to cultural needs, age, development and ability.

greyarrow: Claude Richardson Development Center
 1515 Feliz Dr.,
Bakersfield, CA 93307
Tel: 661.336.5400
Fax: 661.832.8437
The Richardson Center is a preschool educational setting in Bakersfield which provides a variety of educational and support services for children from birth to 5 years of age. Direct services are provided to high risk infants, preschool aged children with special needs, and full-day child development services for students from families that meet program eligibility requirements.

greyarrow: Head Start, Kern County
300 19th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301-4502
Hotline: 1.800.701.7060 Tel: 661.336.5236
Fax: 661.336.5323
Head Start programs provide preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program that addresses the child’s needs in all areas of development: educational, emotional, social, health, nutritional, physical, and mental health.

SERVICE AGENCIES
greyarrow: Kern County Department of Mental Health
 The mission of Kern County Mental Health System of Care is to provide the most effective, culturally appropriate, highest quality combination of treatment and support to persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and/or addiction. For more information, please call 1.800.991.5272

greyarrow: Kern County Department of Human Services
A service related organization providing aid and services to the children and adults of Kern County including financial and medical aid, food and employment assistance and child welfare services including foster placement, adoption and family reunification.

greyarrow: Kern County Department of Public Health
 The agency provides an array of services for people of all ages, including emergency medical services, infectious disease control, immunizations, public health labs, drug and alcohol abuse prevention/intervention/treatment, tobacco education, child health screenings/treatment, dental services, home health services, family planning, perinatal services, special services for seniors, AIDS testing/ counseling/ education and vital statistics.

greyarrow: California Children Services (CCS)
CCS is a statewide program that treats children with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions or diseases. CCS can authorize and pay for specific medical services and equipment provided by CCS-approved specialists.

FAMILY SUPPORT
greyarrow: H.E.A.R.T.S Connection
 Meetings are held monthly throughout Kern County for family members and friends. Meetings provide information on organizations and services and opportunities to meet other families to share joys, challenges and information. For more information, please call 661.328.9055.

greyarrow: Desert Area Resources & Training (DART)
Since 1961, DART, a private, not-for-profit corporation, provides services and opportunities to people who have developmental disabilities or other special needs, so they and their families can pursue the dreams and lifestyles they choose. DART is a provider of services for Regional Centers, Department of Rehabilitation, and Sierra Sands Unified School District.

greyarrow: Parents for Children
 Support/educational group for parents of children diagnosed with ADHD, childhood schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, OCD and other brain disorders. For more information, please call 661.868.8339 or 661.873.1828

greyarrow: The Sibling Support Project
The Sibling Support Project is the only national effort dedicated to the interests of over six million brothers and sisters of people with special health, mental health, and developmental needs. Contact Bonnie Jo Hall of H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection FRC-FEC at 661.328.9055 or bonnie_hall@heartsfrc.org .

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
greyarrow: Kern Autism Network (KAN)
A parent support group that meets regularly and sponsors a local conference each year that brings well known experts in the field to Bakersfield. For more information, please contact Carl Twisseleman at 661.762.7528.

greyarrow: Kern Assistive Technology Center
The Center provides access to state of the art equipment and information regarding assistive devices, and evaluations, training with equipment and consultation regarding acquiring devices for differently abled individuals in the community. For more information, please call 661.852.3399; 661.852.3336 (TYY)

greyarrow: Kern County Learning Disabilities Association
The Kern County LDA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to educating the community and advocating for people with learning disabilities.

greyarrow: Kern County Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a grass-roots movement that provides year-round sports training and athlete competition to children and adults with disabilities. For more information, please call 661.322.7598.

greyarrow: Epilepsy Society Of Kern County
Programs include school and public presentations, employment services, advocacy, car seats and support groups. The Society offers comprehensive educational services like journal articles and videos. For more information, please call 661.634.9810.

greyarrow: Greater Bakersfield Council of the Blind
A local chapter of the California Council of the Blind. We are established to advocate for the rights of, and services to, people in and around the Bakersfield area who are Blind or visually impaired.

greyarrow: Mastering Abilities Riding Equines (M.A.R.E.)
M.A.R.E. is a therapeutic horse riding center that provides equine assisted programs to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

greyarrow: Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE)
Helps children and adults with disabilities acquire increased independence in sitting, standing and walking to experience, learn and gain more mobility, better health and enhanced personal dignity. The mission statement of MOVE is founded in the belief that the ability to move is the first foundation stone in building personal dignity. Please call 800.397.MOVE(6683)

greyarrow: Society for Disabled Children
Provides speech therapy, summer camp for orthopedically handicapped and hearing impaired children, transportation aide, loan of orthopedic equipment and social activities for physically handicapped youth. For more information, please call 661.322.5595.

greyarrow: Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)
The Mission of the Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired is to provide opportunities that promote independence and enhance the quality of life for blind and visually impaired people in Kern County. CBVI works closely with the State of California's Department of Rehab to help promote independence of the blind and visually impaired.

greyarrow: B-GLAD
Since 1984, B-GLAD provides programs and services and functions as the only local coordinating agency addressing the broad social service needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community in Kern County.

RESOURCES

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