Services

What Stars does, in plain words.

Stars provides developmental assessments, early intervention, and family support for infants and toddlers under age 3.

One program, four kinds of help.

Every child who comes to Stars is different. Some families need an assessment to understand what they are seeing. Some need a team beside them for months. Most need both, in that order.

This page explains each kind of help and how they connect. Families can contact Stars directly. A diagnosis is not required to begin.

The four groups

Assessment, early intervention, therapies, family support.

Most families begin with the first and continue with the others.

  1. 01

    Developmental assessment

    A multidisciplinary team looks at how your child is developing across several areas, with you taking part. Your team is matched to your primary area of concern.

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    Areas the team reviews

    • Social-emotional: interactions and connections with adults and other children
    • Communication: what your child understands and what they are able to express
    • Motor: rolling, crawling, walking, and hand skills
    • Cognitive: problem solving and attention
    • Adaptive self-care: mealtime, sleeping routines, and everyday self-care
    • Vision and hearing screening
    • Medical history
  2. 02

    Early intervention

    One-on-one early intervention for your child and your family. Sessions encourage brain development and social development through play and innovative teaching. Group sessions are part of the program too.

    What the team provides

    • Initial evaluations, progress reports, and interventionist observations
    • Monthly objectives in the areas of development that show a significant delay, toward the IFSP goals
    • Help with initial contacts and follow-up with the Regional Center and other professionals
    • Assistance through partnerships, professionals, and community resources
  3. 03

    Therapies

    Speech and language, occupational, and physical therapy for infants and toddlers, delivered by the therapists on the Stars team.

    Three therapies

    • Speech and language therapy: understanding, first words, gestures, and communicating
    • Occupational therapy: hand skills, self-care routines, and sensory responses
    • Physical therapy: rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, and balance
  4. 04

    Family support and parent education

    Parents are part of the team from the first conversation. Stars explains what it sees, shows you what to practice between visits, and connects you with community resources.

    See events and classes

    What families receive

    • Parent education and support
    • Help creating the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with your Service Coordinator
    • Free virtual classes, such as the baby massage and bonding class
    • Care that respects your family's language, culture, and home

Plain language

What is an IFSP?

IFSP stands for Individualized Family Service Plan. It is the written plan for a child in Early Start, California's early intervention program for infants and toddlers.

Who writes it
The family and the team write it together. Your Regional Center Service Coordinator leads the plan. Stars helps create it.
What is in it
Your child's strengths and needs, your family's priorities, the goals you agree on, and the services that support them.
What Stars does with it
Stars sets monthly objectives in the areas that show a significant delay, works toward the IFSP goals, and reports progress to you.
How it changes
The plan follows your child. It is reviewed with you and updated as needs change.

How to begin

Three ways to start. One team on the other end.

Stars talks with every family about what to expect.

  1. Start online

    The Early Start request takes a few minutes on a phone, mostly by tapping, in English or Spanish.

    Request an Assessment

  2. Or call Stars

    Call (844) 700-9889 and say you want an Early Start assessment for your child.

    Call (844) 700-9889

  3. Or ask a professional to refer

    Your pediatrician, clinic, or another professional can send the request for you. Families can also begin directly.

    Community Partners

  4. Stars listens

    A team member contacts you to talk about your child, your concerns, and your preferred language.

Early Start developmental assessments are provided at no cost to families.

Ready when you are.

Start online or call. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or the right words. What you noticed is enough.

Request an Assessment Call (844) 700-9889
  • No Diagnosis Needed
Request an Assessment