intake process

How Do You Receive Regional Center Services?

A person can qualify for services at any age, however, the person must be diagnosed with an intellectual and/or a developmental disability before the age of 18.
Regional centers do not provide support to persons who are only diagnosed with a mental illness (i.e. depression, schizophrenia), have a learning disability (i.e. dyslexia, auditory processing disorder), are only deaf or blind, or only have a speech disorder.
The primary diagnosis must be an intellectual and/or developmental disability. A person can be found eligible who is dually diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability as well as other disabilities described above.
However, if you feel someone is delayed, and are unsure if they would qualify for SCLARC services, please refer them for an assessment.

Income is not a factor for eligibility.
Services are provided for free.
Services are provided regardless of citizenship or residency status – consumers can receive services if they are undocumented.

If you would like to determine if your loved one is eligible for services or to make a referral to Early Start Intake, contact:
Phone: (213) 744-8807, (213) 744-8809, (213) 744-7068
Fax: (213) 947-4115
Email: earlystartintake@sclarc.org
For ages 3 and above, contact Lanterman Intake at:
Phone: (213) 744-8880 or (213) 744-8872
Fax: (213) 559-0612
Email: lantermanintake@sclarc.org

Intake Worker completes an initial telephone screening and schedules an appointment for an office visit if needed. Early Start may schedule an in-home visit if needed.
Please call first, do not walk in.
Helpful to bring any documentation that indicates why the person may meet eligibility criteria, i.e. medical records, psychological/ psychiatric evaluations, school records (IEP’s, report cards, etc.)
Intake Service Coordinator (SC) will interview the potential client and family and complete a psycho-social assessment within 15 days of initial request for screening.
Other clinicians, such as a psychologist, physician, OT/PT, or others may also assess the prospective client if needed.
In some cases, Intake may observe the individual in the community, i.e. in school, to ensure an accurate assessment.
Finally a “Core Staffing Team” comprised of clinicians, managers, and the Intake SC will make a determination regarding eligibility.
For those not found eligible, referrals will be made to appropriate alternative resources in the community.
The intake process for ages 3 and older generally takes 45-120 days to complete.
Birth to three cases are reviewed by the Early Start Eligibility Team which generally takes 45 days to complete.