California Parent Organizations
List of California agencies providing resources for families of children 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.
Parent Training and Information Center
California Community Parent Resource Centers
Senate Bill 511, Family Empowerment Centers
Parent Training and Information Center
Background
Each Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC) is a parent-directed non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education, authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and often enhanced by private sources. Every state in the United States has a funded PTIC.
IDEA states that PTICs will provide parents of children, ages birth through twenty-six with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of limited English-proficient children, and parents with disabilities, with the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children with disabilities to:
- meet developmental and functional goals, and the challenging academic achievement goals that have been established for all children;
- be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives, to the maximum extent possible; and
- provide training and information on parent rights, responsibilities, and protections under IDEA in order to develop the skills necessary to cooperatively and effectively participate in planning and decision-making relating to early intervention, educational, and transitional services.
Core Programs
These core programs and services are offered by each of the California PTICs:
- Workshops which cover:
- Disability awareness programs
- Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs)
- Parent and student rights and responsibilities under IDEA
- Parent mentor training
- Transition to public school
- Transition from school to adult life
- Surrogate Parent Appointment and Responsibilities
- Parent-to-Parent Support
- Assistance and Advocacy for educational issues and other services (e.g., Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Respite)
- Support Groups
- Information and Referral
- Resource Library and Information Packets on a variety of topics including different types of disabilities
Collectively, the PTIC's newsletters reach 55,000 readers in California, and over 60,000 parents and professionals contact the PTICs annually.
PTIC Contact Information
| Organization | Phone | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
Exceptional Parents Unlimited
|
559-229-2000 559-229-2956 (Fax) |
4440 North First Street, Fresno, CA 93726 |
info@epuchildren.org |
| Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund (DREDF)
|
510-644-2555 (TDD Available) 510-841-8645 (Fax) 800-348-4232 |
3075 Adeline Street, Suite 210, Berkeley, CA 94703 |
|
| Matrix
|
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
|
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
|
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)
|
714-533-8275 714-533-2533 (Fax) |
3020 Saturn Street, #2 Brea, CA 92821 |
California Community Parent Resource Centers
Background
The Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), 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
|
Vanda Yung | Address: Phone: Email: |
Serving Los Angeles and Orange Counties |
| Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund (DREDF)
|
Susan Henderson | Address: Phone: Email:
|
Serving west side communities of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties |
| Parents Child Advocacy Network (CAN)
|
Marlena Garcia | Address: Phone: Email: |
Serving Napa County |
| Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
|
Juno Duenas | Address: Phone: |
Serving San Francisco County, but all families are welcomed |
Senate Bill 511, Family Empowerment Centers
Background
The Family Empowerment Centers (FECs) were established in 2001 by enactment of Chapter 690 of the Statutes of 2001 (Senate Bill 511, Alpert), enacted as Education Code (EC) 56400-56415. The FECs provide services to families with children with disabilities ages 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). Funding for the FECs is based upon a specific formula. A 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 of 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 community.
As a condition of funding, each FEC shall do all of the following as required in EC Section 56408(a):
(1) Provide training and information that meets the training and information needs of parents and families of children and young adults with disabilities living in the area served by the center, particularly those families and individuals who have been underserved.
(2) Work with community-based organizations, including community advisory committees established pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 56190) of Chapter 2, parent advisory committees of one or more local educational agencies in their service region established pursuant to Sections 52063 and 52069, and state and local agencies serving children with disabilities.
(3) Train and support parents and families of children and young adults with disabilities to do all of the following:
(A) Better understand the nature of their children’s disabilities and their children’s educational and developmental needs, including the benefits of inclusion in a least restrictive educational environment.
(B) Participate in activities to address disparities in opportunities and improve outcomes for children and young adults with disabilities.
(C) Advocate for the child’s needs in a manner that promotes alternative forms of dispute resolution and positive relationships between parents and professionals.
(4) Support parents with how to access language access support, including interpretation and translation of written materials, that is additional to language access support required to be provided by local educational agencies.
(5) Support parents in navigating referrals for services, such as support for pupil and family needs, respite services, physical and mental health services, and other necessary services depending on family circumstances.
(6) Assist parents in accessing support through other programs, such as the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program and programs administered by the State Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Rehabilitation.
(7) Support parents in communicating effectively with personnel responsible for providing special education, early intervention, and related services.
(8) Serve as a resource to parents and families in decision making processes and the development of individualized education programs.
(9) Provide parents appropriate information regarding the range of options, programs, services, and resources available to assist children and young adults with disabilities and their families.
(10) Subject to the availability of resources and upon parental request, attend individualized education program development meetings that include parents and personnel responsible for assessing pupil eligibility for special education and early intervention services.
(11) Submit data annually, in accordance with the data template established by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 56411, no later than a date selected by the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall select this date by June 30, 2022.
FEC Contact and Service Information
| Organization and Contact Information | Counties/Regions Served | Status |
|---|---|---|
California Department of Education, Special Education Questions, comments, and inquiries may be submitted to:
|
All | Active |
Technical Assistance Partner: Seeds of Partnership
Phone: 916-228-2388 |
All | Active |
Ability Path's Family Resource Center of San Mateo County
Address: Phone: 650-259-0189 |
San Mateo | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Alpha Family Empowerment Center
Address: Phone: 805-683-2145 |
Santa Barbara | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
|
Address: Phone: 925-313-0999 |
Contra Costa | Active |
Challenged Family Resource Center
Address: Phone: 209-385-5314 |
Merced | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Early Start Family Resource Network and Family Empowerment Center
Address: Phone: 909-890-4788 |
Riverside, San Bernardino | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Exceptional Family Resource Empowerment Center (EFRC)
Address: Phone: 619-594-7416 |
Imperial, San Diego |
Active |
Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU)
Address: Phone: 559-229-2000 |
Fresno, Kings Madera |
Active |
Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center
Address: Phone: 818-677-6854 |
Los Angeles Catchment Area A serves the following Local Educational Agency (LEA) regions: Los Angeles USD portion serves the following zip codes: |
Active |
Family Resource Center of the Redwoods
Address: Phone: 707-464-0955 |
Del Norte | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
|
Address: Phone: 510-547-7322 |
Alameda | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
|
Address: Phone: 209-472-3673 |
Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
|
Address: Phone: 530-751-1925 |
Colusa, Sutter, Yuba | Active |
H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center and Empowerment Center
Address: Phone: 661-328-9055 |
Kern | Active |
Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center
Address: Phone: |
Napa, Solano, Sonoma Marin |
Active |
|
Address: Phone: 408-727-5775 x149 |
Santa Clara | Active |
Parents Helping Parents, San Luis Obispo
Address: Phone: 805-543-3277 |
San Luis Obispo | Active |
Parenting Network – Visalia Family Resource Center
Address: Phone: 559-625-1533 |
Tulare | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
| The Parents’ Place Family Resource Center
Address: Phone: 626-919-1091 |
Los Angeles Catchment Area J serves the following LEA regions: |
Active |
|
Address: Phone: 626-300-9171 |
Los Angeles Catchment Area C serves the following LEA regions: Los Angeles USD portion serves the following zip codes: |
Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
|
Address: Phone: 530-283-2735 x880 or 530-708-2557 |
Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra | Active |
Rainbow Connection Family Resource Center
Address: 2635 Park Center Drive, Suite A Simi Valley, CA 93065 Phone: 805-485-9643 |
Ventura | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern California (RFENC)
Address: Phone: 530-226-5129 |
Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity | Active |
South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (McClaney Family Resource Center)
Address: Phone: 213-744-8882 or 213-744-8878 |
Los Angeles Catchment Area B serves the following LEA regions: |
Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
|
Address: Phone: 831-372-2730 |
Monterey | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Special Parents Information Network (SPIN)
Address: Phone: 831-722-2800 |
San Benito, Santa Cruz | Active |
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Address: Phone: 415-282-7494 |
San Francisco | Active |
Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc. (TASK)
Address: Phone: 714-533-8275 |
Orange Los Angeles Catchment Area E serves the following LEA Regions: Los Angeles USD portion serves the following zip codes: Los Angeles Catchment Area F serves the following LEA Regions: Los Angeles Catchment Area G serves the following LEA Regions: ABC USD, Bellflower USD, Little Lake City Elementary SD, Norwalk La Mirada Los Angeles Catchment Area H serves the following LEA Regions: Los Angeles USD portion serves the following zip codes: Los Angeles Catchment Area I serves the following LEA Regions: Los Angeles USD portion serves the following zip codes: |
Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Warmline Family Resource Center
Address: Phone: 916-455-9500 |
Alpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo | Active – Scaling Up Supports and Resources |
Westside Family Resource Center
Address: Phone: 310-258-4063 |
Los Angeles Catchment Area D serves the following LEA regions: Los Angeles USD portion serves the following zip codes: |
Active |
Other State Resources
All About Young Children
As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. You have experienced how fascinating and puzzling your young child can be. All About Young Children invites you to explore information to help understand your child's learning, and discover new ways to support their growth.
California Hands & Voices
California Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing in a respectful and non-judgmental manner regarding language opportunities, communication tools or educational approaches. This is a parent-driven non-profit organization providing families with the resources, networks, and information to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children; outreach activities, parent/professional collaboration; and advocacy efforts focused on enabling children who are deaf or hard of hearing to reach their highest potential.
Department of Developmental Services: Early Start Family Resource Centers
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.
Parent Links
"Hope, Dream, Achieve!"
Parent Links empowers parents of deaf or hard of hearing infants and toddlers by providing them with comprehensive information and awareness through mentoring, networking, and resources, and by honoring the family’s relationship with their child and their choices in language and communication opportunities. This program is for families with children identified as deaf or hard of hearing ages birth to 3 years old. Parent Links parent mentors have children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are here to support, provide information on education and communication opportunities as well as connections to other families. Parent Links is a program of the CDE funded by a federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau grant.
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.
Seeds of Partnership
Seeds of Partnership project provides assistance on behalf of the California Department of Education, Special Education Division to support the direction, initiatives, and activities that are a part of the State Performance Plan (SPP) related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) parent involvement indicators. The Seeds of Partnership project also creates and provides professional learning tools to increase improvement of partnerships to assist local educational agencies improve family engagement practices and educational outcomes for students with disabilities
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.
- Notice of Procedural Safeguards (English) - Microsoft Word version (DOCX)
- Notice of Procedural Safeguards (English) - Portable Document Format (PDF) version (PDF)
Parents’ Rights
A brief summary of Procedural Safeguards for students with disabilities receiving special education services.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – Parents and Families
Parents and families want the best for their family members. The Parents and Families Resource page brings together U.S. Department of Education-funded centers, department programs, and additional information of interest for parents and families.
