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California Parent Organizations

List of California non-profit agencies providing resources and support for families of children and youth with disabilities.

Parent Organizations and the California Department of Education

The California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division, works closely with federal-and-state-funded parent organizations to increase parent participation and collaboration between parents and educators to improve the educational system.

Senate Bill 511, Family Empowerment Centers

Parent Training and Information Center

California Community Parent Resource Centers

Senate Bill 511, Family Empowerment Centers

Background

The Family Empowerment Centers (FECs) were established in Chapter 690 of the Statutes of 2001 (Senate Bill 511, Alpert), enacted as Education Code (EC) 56400-56415 External link opens in new window or tab. . The FECs provide services to families with children with disabilities aged three to twenty-two. The intent of the Legislature is to ensure that parents, guardians, and families of children and young adults with disabilities have access to accurate information, specialized training, and peer-to-peer support. Each FEC is a non-profit 501 (c)(3). Grant funding for the FECs is based upon a specific formula. A base rate of $246,000.00 is allocated annually to each center to provide the basic services. Additional funding for each FEC is determined according to school enrollment in the region served.

The FECs provide training and information to families of children and young adults with disabilities, between the ages of 3 and 22. These parent-led nonprofit organizations offer specialized training, peer-to-peer support, information, and referral services. They aim to assist parents to better understand their child’s educational and developmental needs, effectively communicate with service providers, serve as a resource for the individual education plan process, participate in school reform and improvement activities, promote alternative dispute resolution, and support positive relationships between parents and professionals. Services available through each FEC vary based on the needs of the region they serve.

As a condition of funding, each FEC provides regionalized services as required per EC Section 56408 External link opens in new window or tab.. No region is the same and each FEC conducts needs assessments to ensure parent, children, and student needs are met in their areas. Pursuant to EC Section 56411 External link opens in new window or tab., FECs must submit data annually to the CDE in support of outcome based evaluations to continue funding for each center.

The FECs must also participate in the statewide Family Empowerment and Disability Council (FEDC), composed of the executive directors of the FECs (EC Section 56410 External link opens in new window or tab.). The CDE co-facilitates the FEDC and convenes the group to ensure coordinated training and information dissemination, content, and materials for FECs to ensure parents across the state have equitable access to training and information.

FEC Contact and Service Information

Organization and Contact Information Counties/Regions Served

California Department of Education, Special Education Division

Grant program monitoring, questions, comments, and inquiries may be submitted to:

  • Family Empowerment Center Team Mailbox (FEC@cde.ca.gov)
    • Noelia Hernandez, Education Administrator I
    • Patrick Garcia-Smith, Education Programs Consultant
    • Katie Maloney-Krips, Education Program Consultant
    • Ivan Tiet, Education Programs Assistant
    • Timothy Nash, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
All

FEC Technical Assistance Partner and FEDC Co-facilitator: Seeds of Partnership External link opens in new window or tab.

Phone: 916-228-2388

Email: seeds@scoe.net

All

Ability Path's Family Resource Center of San Mateo County External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1764 Marco Polo Way
Burlingame, CA 94010

Phone: 650-259-0189

San Mateo

Alpha Family Empowerment Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
4501 Cathedral Oaks Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Phone: 805-683-2145

Santa Barbara

Care Parent Network External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
2051 Harrison St, Suite C
Concord, CA 94520

Phone: 925-313-0999

Contra Costa

Challenged Family Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
827 West 20th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Phone: 209-385-5314

Merced

Changing Tides Family Services External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
2257 Myrtle Avenue
Eureka, CA 9550

Phone:
707-444-8293

Humboldt

Early Start Family Resource Network and Family Empowerment Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1365 S. Waterman Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408

Phone: 909-890-4788

Riverside, San Bernardino

Exceptional Family Resource Empowerment Center (EFRC) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
6367 Alvarado Road, Suite 350
San Diego, CA 92120

Phone: 619-594-7416

Imperial, San Diego

Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
4440 North First Street
Fresno, CA 93726

Phone: 559-229-2000

Fresno, Kings

Madera

Mariposa

Family Resource Center of the Redwoods External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
494 Pacific Avenue
Crescent City, CA 95531

Phone: 707-464-0955

Del Norte

Family Resource Navigators External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
101 Callan Avenue, Suite 200
San Leandro, CA 94577

Phone: 510-547-7322

Alameda

Family Resource Network External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
5250 Claremont Avenue, Suite 148
Stockton, CA 95207

Phone: 209-472-3674

Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne

Family SOUP External link opens in new window or tab.

Family Soup Facebook External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1650 Sierra Avenue
Suite 106
Yuba City, CA 95993

Phone: 530-751-1925

Colusa, Sutter, Yuba

H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center and Empowerment Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address (Kern):
4500 California Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93309

Phone (Kern): 661-328-9055

Address (Inyo, Mono):
308 W. Line Street, Suite 7,
Bishop, CA. 93514

Phone (Inyo, Mono): 661-531-3498

Kern

Inyo, Mono

Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
2400 Las Gallinas Avenue, Suite 100
San Rafael, CA 94903-145494

Phone:
Main: 415-884-3535
Helpline: 800-578-2592

Marin, Solano, Sonoma

Napa

Parents Helping Parents, Inc. External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits
1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95126

Phone: 408-727-5775

Santa Clara

Parents Helping Parents, San Luis Obispo External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1146 Farmhouse Lane
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Phone: 805-543-3277

San Luis Obispo

Parenting Network – Visalia Family Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
330 N. Johnson Street
Visalia, CA. 93291

Phone: 559-625-0384

Tulare

Plumas Rural Services, Inc. External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
711 East Main Street
Quincy, CA 95971

Phone: 530-283-2735 x880

Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra

Rainbow Connection Family Resource and Empowerment Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
Oxnard Office (main office)
2401 E Gonzales Road
Oxnard, CA 93036

Simi Office
2635 Park Center Drive, Suite A
Simi Valley, CA 93065

Phone: 805-485-9643

Ventura

Raise & Shine Early Start Family Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
166 East Gobbi Street
Ukiah, CA 95482

Phone:
707-462-4453

Mendocino

Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern California (RFENC) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
3330 Churn Creek Road
Suite A-1
Redding, CA 96002

Phone: 530-226-5129

Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity

Special Kids Connect External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1900 Garden Road, Suite 230
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone: 831-372-2730

Monterey

Special Parents Information Network (SPIN) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
294 Green Valley Road, Suite 313
Watsonville, CA. 95076

Phone: 831-722-2800

San Benito, Santa Cruz

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
832 Folsom Street, Suite 1001
San Francisco, CA 94107

Phone: 415-282-7494

San Francisco

Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc. (TASK) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
3020 Saturn Street, Suite 102
Brea, CA 92821

Phone: 714-533-8275

Orange

WarmLine Family Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
2424 Castro Way
Sacramento, CA, 95818

Phone: 916-455-9500

Alpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo

Los Angeles County FEC Contact and Service Information

Los Angeles County is separated into ten FEC regions/Catchment Areas, which are currently served by six FECs. The area each FEC serves is outlined in the following table by Local Educational Agency (LEA) area. Due to location and population density, seven of the ten regions share in serving a portion of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) region; the portion within the LAUSD boundary served by each FEC is listed in the table below by zip code.

Organization and Contact Information Counties/Regions Served

Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
18111 Nordhoff Street
E-109
Northridge, CA 91330-8265

Phone: 818-677-6854

Los Angeles – (Catchment Area A) includes the following LEA regions and zip codes:

Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District (USD), Antelope Valley Union High School District (SD), Castaic Union SD, Eastside Union Elementary SD, Gorman Joint SD, Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Elementary SD, Keppel Union Elementary SD, Lancaster Elementary SD, Las Virgenes USD, Newhall SD, Palmdale Elementary SD, Saugus Union SD, Sulphur Springs Union SD, Westside Union Elementary SD, William S. Hart Union High SD, Wilsona Elementary SD

Los Angeles USD zip codes:

90290, 91040, 91042, 91303, 91304, 91306, 91307, 91311, 91316, 91324, 91325, 91326, 91330, 91331, 91335, 91340, 91342, 91343, 91344, 91345, 91352, 91356, 91364, 91367, 91371, 91401, 91402, 91403, 91405, 91406, 91411, 91423, 91436, 91601, 91602, 91604, 91605, 91606, 91607, 91608

South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (McClaney Family Resource Center) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
2500 S. Western Avenue, 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90018

Phone: 213-744-8882 or 213-744-8878

Los Angeles – (Catchment Area B) includes the following LEA regions and zip codes:

Compton USD, Downey USD, Lynwood USD, Paramount USD

Los Angeles USD zip codes:

90001, 90002, 90003, 90007, 90008, 90011, 90016, 90018, 90037, 90043, 90044, 90047, 90058, 90059, 90061, 90062, 90201, 90255, 90270, 90280

Partnerships FEC External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Suite 5129, #35
Alhambra, CA 91803

Phone: 626-300-9171

Los Angeles – (Catchment Area C) includes the following LEA regions and zip codes:

Alhambra USD, East Whittier Elementary SD, El Rancho USD, Garvey Elementary SD, Los Nietos SD, Montebello USD, Rosemead USD, San Gabriel USD, San Marino USD, South Pasadena USD, South Whittier Elementary SD, Temple City SD, Whittier City Elementary SD, Whittier Union High SD

Los Angeles USD zip codes:

90022, 90023, 90031, 90032, 90033, 90040, 90041, 90042, 90063, 90065, 91754

Westside Family Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
5901 Green Valley Circle #320
Culver City, CA 90230-6953

Phone: 310-258-4063

Los Angeles – (Catchment Area D) includes the following LEA regions and zip codes:

Beverly Hills USD, Centinela Valley Union High SD, Culver City USD, El Segundo USD, Hawthorne SD, Inglewood USD, Lawndale Elementary SD, Lennox SD, Santa Monica-Malibu USD, Wiseburn USD

Los Angeles USD zip codes:

90024, 90025, 90034, 90035, 90045, 90049, 90064, 90066, 90067, 90077, 90094, 90210, 90230, 90247, 90248, 90249, 90272, 90291, 90292, 90293, 90301, 90303

Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc. (TASK) External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1000 S. Fremont Ave.
Bldg. A-1, Ste. 1110, Unit 54
Alhambra, CA 91803

Phone: 626-300-1043

Los Angeles – (Catchment Area E) includes the following LEA regions and zip codes:

Hermosa Beach City SD, Manhattan Beach USD, Palos Verdes Peninsula USD, Redondo Beach USD, Torrance USD

Los Angeles USD zip codes: 90275, 90501, 90502


Los Angeles – (Catchment Area F) includes the following LEA regions:

Long Beach USD


Los Angeles – (Catchment Area G) includes the following LEA regions:

ABC USD, Bellflower USD, Little Lake City Elementary SD, Norwalk La Mirada


Los Angeles – (Catchment Area H) includes the following zip codes:

Los Angeles USD zip codes: 90710, 90717, 90731, 90732, 90744, 90745, 90746, 90810


Los Angeles – (Catchment Area I) includes the following LEA regions and zip codes:

Burbank USD, Glendale USD, La Cañada USD

Los Angeles USD zip codes: 90004, 90005, 90006, 90010, 90012, 90013, 90014, 90015, 90017, 90019, 90020, 90021, 90026, 90027, 90028, 90029, 90035, 90036, 90038, 90039, 90046, 90048, 90057, 90068, 90069, 90071

Parents’ Place Family Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab.

Address:
1500 South Hyacinth Avenue
Suite B
West Covina, CA 91791

Phone: 626-919-1091

Los Angeles – (Catchment Area J) includes the following LEA regions:

Arcadia USD, Azusa USD, Baldwin Park USD, Bassett USD, Bonita USD, Charter Oak USD, Claremont USD, Covina Valley USD, Duarte USD, El Monte City SD, El Monte Union High SD, Glendora USD, Hacienda La Puente USD, Monrovia USD, Mountain View Elementary SD, Pasadena USD, Pomona USD, Rowland USD, Valle Lindo Elementary SD, Walnut Valley USD, West Covina USD

Parent Training and Information Center

Background

Each Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC) is a parent-directed non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded and managed by the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The CDE coordinates with the PTICs on initiatives and opportunities for parent support statewide.

The PTICs provide a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. Some of the activities include:

  • Working with families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, birth to twenty-six
  • Helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development
  • Partnering with professionals and policy makers to improve outcomes for all children with disabilities

PTIC Contact Information

Organization Phone Address Email
Exceptional Parents Unlimited External link opens in new window or tab. 559-229-2000
559-229-2956 (Fax)
4440 North First Street,
Fresno, CA 93726
info@epuchildren.org
Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund (DREDF) External link opens in new window or tab. 510-644-2555
(TDD Available)
510-841-8645 (Fax)
800-348-4232
3075 Adeline Street, Suite 210,
Berkeley, CA 94703

info@dredf.org

Matrix External link opens in new window or tab. 415-884-3535
415-884-3555 (Fax)
800-578-2592
94 Galli Drive, Suite C
Novato, CA 94949
info@matrixparents.org
Parents Helping Parents of Santa Clara External link opens in new window or tab. 408-727-5775
825-727-5775 (toll free)
408-286-1116 (Fax)
1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95126
info@php.com
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities External link opens in new window or tab. 415-282-7494
415-282-1226 (Fax)
1663 Mission Street, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94103
info@supportforfamilies.org
Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) External link opens in new window or tab. 714-533-8275
714-533-2533 (Fax)
626-300-1043
(Los Angeles Office)
3020 Saturn Street, Suite 102
Brea, CA 92821

task@taskca.org

California Community Parent Resource Centers

Background

The Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), are managed and funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and, as described in 20 United States Code 1472, will help ensure that underserved parents of children, ages birth through twenty-six with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of limited English-proficient children, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information the parents need to enable the parents to participate effectively in helping their children with disabilities.

Each CPRC shall:

  • provide training and information that meets the training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities,
  • carry out the activities required of PTICs, and
  • be designed to meet the specific needs of families who experience significant isolation from available sources of information and support.

CPRC Contact Information

Organization Contact Person Contact Information About
Chinese Parents Association for the Disabled External link opens in new window or tab. Vanda Yung

Address:
PO Box 2884
San Gabriel, CA 91778

Phone:
626-600-6538

Email:
n/a

Serving Los Angeles and Orange Counties
Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund (DREDF) External link opens in new window or tab. Susan Henderson

Address:
3075 Adeline Street, Suite 210
Berkeley, CA 94703

Phone:
510-644-2555
510-841-8645 (Fax)

Email:
shenderson@dredf.org

info@dredf.org


Serving west side communities of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
Parents Child Advocacy Network (CAN) External link opens in new window or tab. Marlena Garcia

Address:
1909 Jefferson Street
Napa, California 94559

Phone:
707-253-7444
707-253-2244 (Fax)

Email:
marlenag@parentscan.org

parents@parentscan.org

Serving Napa County
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities External link opens in new window or tab. Juno Duenas

Address:
1663 Mission Street, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94103

Phone:
415-282-7494
415-282-1226 (Fax)

Email:
jwelsh@supportforfamilies.org

info@supportforfamilies.org

Serving San Francisco County, but all families are welcomed

Other Resources

Department of Developmental Services: Early Start Family Resource Centers External link opens in new window or tab.
Families of infants and toddlers, birth to thirty-six months at risk of or with developmental delays and disabilities, can receive parent-to-parent support from Early Start Family Resource Centers and Networks.

SELPA Administrators of California – Alternative Dispute Resolution External link opens in new window or tab.
Information, training announcements, and resources for family engagement and ADR.

Pathways to Partnership External link opens in new window or tab.
The Pathways to Partnership consortium includes Tehama and Ventura County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), Tehama and Ventura County Office of Education (COE), and the Family Empowerment Centers that serve those areas. Pathways to Partnership has established and experienced leadership in designing model programs in Dispute Prevention and Resolution. Pathways to Partnership has experience in rural, suburban, and urban regions and will be able to provide and adapt program design, development, and implementation support to the diverse populations of California.

Center for Parent Information and Resources External link opens in new window or tab.
This hub of information is funded by the Office for Special Education Programs. It contains family-friendly information and research-based materials on key topics for Parent Centers; private workspaces for Parent Centers to exchange resources, discuss high-priority topics, and solve mutual challenges; coordination of parent training efforts throughout the network; a twice-monthly e-newsletter with key topics, new resources, upcoming events, and materials to share with families; and materials from Parent Centers themselves.

CADRE Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitation Parent Guide and Companion Videos External link opens in new window or tab.
A printable parent guide with companion videos providing an overview of IEP facilitation and how to prepare. Please visit the CADRE web page for translations.

CADRE Working Together Series External link opens in new window or tab.
A series providing families and educators with strategies for working together and through conflict. Anyone supporting children or youth with disabilities may benefit from this series, however, the setting in which collaborative problem solving and conflict resolution takes place within this series is typically the school or IEP meeting.

Reasons for Concern
If you suspect that your child or a child in your care may have a disability or special need(s) that may be affecting their academic, behavioral or developmental progress, there are state and local resources in place for assistance and guidance.

Rights of Parents and Children

State Compliance Complaint Support Unit

The CDE Special Education State Compliance Complaint Support Unit provides technical assistance information and resources for parents, school districts, advocates, agencies, and others of procedural safeguards regarding students between ages 3 and 21 with disabilities and their educational rights.

Rights of Parents and Children

Special Education Rights of Parents and Children Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, and the California Education Code.

To file for mediation or a due process hearing, contact:
Office of Administrative Hearings
Special Education Division
2349 Gateway Oaks, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95833-4231
Telephone: 916-263-0880
Fax: 916-376-4207
Secure Electronic Filing External link opens in new window or tab.

Questions:   Family Empowerment Center Team | FEC@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
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