Early Start questions
Early Start questions, answered.
What families and professionals ask most, with the answer first.
What is Early Start?
Early Start is California's early intervention program for infants and toddlers.
What ages does Stars serve?
Early Start is designed for children under age 3. If your child is 3 or older, Stars can still help you understand the next step.
What does an assessment cost?
Early Start developmental assessments are provided at no cost to families.
Does my child need a diagnosis or a doctor's referral first?
No. You can start with a question. Stars will talk with you about what you have noticed and what the next step could be.
Who can contact Stars?
Families can contact Stars directly. So can pediatricians, clinics, hospitals, teachers, childcare providers, social workers, foster-care professionals, and Regional Center teams. A diagnosis is not required to begin.
How do I request an Early Start assessment?
Start the online request or call (844) 700-9889. Say what you have noticed. That is enough to begin.
A team member contacts you to talk about your child, your priorities, and your preferred language.
Which counties does Stars serve?
Stars serves Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties today.
What happens during an assessment?
A multidisciplinary team looks at social-emotional development, communication, motor skills, thinking and problem solving, self-care routines, vision and hearing screening, and medical history. Your team is matched to your family's priorities.
Who is on my child's team?
Your Stars team may include occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, and early intervention specialists.
What is an IFSP?
An Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP, is the written plan a family and the team create together. Stars helps coordinate it and sets monthly objectives toward its goals.
Is Stars available in Spanish?
This website and the online Early Start request are available in English and Spanish. Tell Stars your preferred language when you reach out.
I am a pediatrician or another professional. How do I refer a child?
Use the professional branch of the online request. It asks for your organization, your role, and how you prefer to be reached. Families can also contact Stars directly, so you can share the phone number too.
How is the Infant Program related to the Stars Assessment Center?
They are two doors into one Stars ecosystem. The Infant Program provides Early Start assessments and early intervention. The Assessment Center is a separate Stars service for developmental assessments, with its own website and contact.
How is my information handled?
Privately. This site uses no advertising trackers or third-party analytics; it counts visits only in total, with nothing that identifies you. Answers in the online request stay in your browser until you choose to send them, and they are used only to respond to your request.
For a medical emergency, call 911. For urgent medical questions, contact your child's doctor.