Services For children With Special Needs

The purpose of IHSD’s Disabilities Services is to ensure that children with disabilities and mental health needs receive all of the services to which they are entitled. Disabilities Coordinators and Family Service Specialists work collaboratively to accomplish the following goals and objectives for service:

• Recruiting and enrolling children with disabilities, particularly those with more intensive special needs.
• Integrating children with disabilities into regular early care and education settings with other children.
• Providing screening and/or in-depth evaluation in the areas of speech, motor development, health, and social-emotional development.
• Providing support to assist parents in learning about and accepting their child’s special needs.
• Participating in IEP and IFSP meetings and providing necessary services according to IEP/IFSP guidelines.
• Providing referrals for appropriate special education or therapeutic programs.
• Providing counseling to parents and children by Mental Health Consultants and information and referrals about other available mental health services.
• Establishing collaborative efforts between San Mateo County Head Start/Early Head Start and other agencies serving children with disabilities in order to identify and facilitate a continuity of services necessary to meet children’s developmental needs.
• Promoting and participating in inter-agency coordination to ensure the delivery of comprehensive services for every San Mateo County Head Start/Early Head Start child with a disability in their families.