California Parent Organizations

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	Email
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	info@dredf.org
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)	3040 Saturn Street, #3 Brea, CA 92821	taskca@yahoo.com

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: 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)	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)	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	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

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.

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	Counties Served	Contact Information	About
Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC)	Imperial, San Diego	Address: 9245 Sky Park Court Suite 130 San Diego, CA 92123 Phone: 619-594-7416	EFRC strives to empower families by providing emotional support, current information, resources, and strategies to collaborate, communicate and establish positive relationships with schools, service agencies and community Technical assistance includes: Individualized Education Program (IEP) support, CA Early Start Point of Entry: Individualized Family Service Plan, Peer Parent Mentors/Support Groups, Parent Education, Referral Services
Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU)	Fresno, Kings	Address: 4440 North First Street Fresno, CA 93726 Phone: 559-229-2000	EPU’s goal is to connect families with staff members who are parents and family members of a loved one living with a disability Provide parents/families with support, resources, workshops and guidance on special education (IEPs, 504 plans, and any other concerns or questions related to special education) Provides assistance and promotes collaboration between parents/families and professionals through phone calls and meetings in order to best serve the person with special needs
Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center	North Los Angeles (San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley)	Address: 18111 Nordhoff Street E-109 Northridge, CA 91330-8265 Phone: 818-677-6854	Provides information about disabilities, laws, and services Offers parent to parent support, workshops and support groups Collaborates with community partners IEP training focusing on positive outcomes Cultural humility & respect
Family SOUP	Colusa, Sutter, Yuba	Family Soup Facebook Address: 1650 Sierra Avenue Suite 106 Yuba City, CA 95993 Phone: 530-751-1925	Serves families with a concern about their child’s development, school performance and access, or social-emotional well-being. There are no eligibility or diagnosis requirements for service Provides parent-to-parent support, system navigation and guidance, individual support for parents in school meetings such as IEPs, 504s, and student study teams and attends those meetings on parent request Families learn how to gain access to assessments, early intervention, preschool options, least restrictive environment and inclusion, transition to adult life, behavioral supports and engage in the IEP process Offers Able Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding program which combines the therapy magic of horses and 4-H Positive Youth Development for our differently abled riders
H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center and Empowerment Center	Kern	Address: 4500 California Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: 661-328-9055	Provides Parent trainings on topics such as: IEP, 504 plans, Transition, Resources IEP Clinics once a month with H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection staff and an advocate IEP/504 plan assistance: Reviewing paperwork, attending IEP if necessary Parent Support Groups, Sibling Events, and an Annual Conference Respects families’ cultural, linguistic & socioeconomic diversity
Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center	Napa, Solano, Sonoma	Address: 2400 Las Gallinas Avenue, Suite 115 San Rafael, CA 94903-145494 Phone: Main: 415-884-3535 Helpline: 800-578-2592	Empowers families of children with special needs to successfully understand and access the systems that serve them Provides information, special education trainings and support services to families of children with special needs and the professionals who serve them Parent-to-Parent emotional support, Helpline (phone) for resources, information and support, in-person parent meetings, parent support groups, information packets and one-page Help-sheets, IEP toolkits Services delivered in both English and Spanish
Parents Helping Parents, Inc.	Santa Clara	Address: Sobrato Center for Nonprofits 1400 Parkmoor Avenue Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95126 Phone:  408-727-5775 x149	PHP is a parent-directed family resource center, founded in 1976. Our goal is to ensure that families who have children with special needs, especially underserved families have access to information, training, and support they need to be positively and effectively involved in their child’s education Services are bilingual/cultural and include trainings on disability issues, assistive technology tool kits, peer support, support and information groups, an active web site that includes online-trainings, information packets, a resource directory, an IEP prep tool and more Go to our website to see how PHP can assist you!
The Parents’ Place Family Resource Center	Los Angeles (San Gabriel Valley, Pomona)	Address: 1500 South Hyacinth Avenue Suite B West Covina, CA 91791 Phone: 626-919-1091	Since its inception in 1989, the mission of Parents' Place has been to provide hope and support for families with children with special needs through education and community resources Provides a Warmline, parent-to-parent support with parent driven support groups, seminars, conferences, Information Fair & Festival, Santa Photo Day-Open House, quarterly newsletter, book/video/toy lending library, a Resource Directory, social activities for parents, teens and young adults (and much more!) Offers workshops, trainings, and an after high school IEP-Transition Conference Collaboration with Community Agencies and Programs FRC Specialist available in 4 languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Vietnamese
Plumas Rural Services, Inc.	Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra	Address: 711 East Main Street Quincy, CA 95971 Phone: 530-283-2735 x880 or 530-708-2557	Provides information, training, support and advocacy to parents and guardians of children and young adults with any disability Community outreach and trainings, peer support and caregiver education, empowering parents and guardians through knowledge, skills, and motivation to ensure a greater sense of confidence when advocating for their children and young adults with diverse disabilities Dedicated to “improving the quality of life by promoting the health, education, and well-being of local residents and families.” Part of a multi-program agency with services that include: child care resource and referral; subsidized child care; child care food program; family child care network; domestic violence family focus network; women, infant, and children; in-home respite, child abuse treatment, senior connections, Family center on disabilities and ALIVE, a training and support for adults with special needs
Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern California (RFENC)	Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity	Address: 3330 Churn Creek Road Suite A-1 Redding, CA 96002 Phone: 530-226-5129	RFENC is a parent directed Family Resource Center and Family Empowerment Center. Serves families who have children with special needs ages birth through High School Supports and guides families as they learn how to successfully navigate the systems that serve them Provides support, information, and training to families related to special education, and special health care systems. Services include special education trainings, Parent Consultant services, and the dissemination of vetted resources specific to the family’s needs Provides parent leadership training for caregivers as they learn to positively, and effectively advocate for their family, working alongside the service providers for their children
Special Parents Information Network (SPIN)	San Benito, Santa Cruz	Address: P.O. Box 2367 Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone: 831-722-2800	SPIN is a non-profit parent-to-parent support and information network serving parents, guardians and families who have a child or children with special needs of any age. SPIN is a Family Empowerment Center on Disabilities. Provides parent support and training regarding education and the IEP process for parents of children ages three to twenty-two, offers a parent-mentor program, informational events, support groups for both English and Spanish speaking parents, and networking events Educational workshops and training on various topics to educate parents and professionals to better meet and advocate for a child's needs at home, school and in the community including Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Clinics, offering individual assistance with issues Resource Library of books, periodicals, journals, brochures and videos on various special needs topics. Information on and referral to local resources for children with special needs
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities	San Francisco	Address: 1663 Mission Street Suite 700 San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: 415-282-7494	A parent-run San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 1982 that supports families of children with disabilities or special health care needs.  All services are free to families, professionals and the community at large Family Resource Specialists are available to assist families and professionals with the information and resources needed to make informed decisions that improve outcomes for children with disabilities Workshops are offered on topics related to the IEP process, navigating services and systems, and topics affecting the disability community. We offer a Parent Mentor Program that empowers parents to be leaders in their communities Several support groups are available that focus on the parent’s spoken language (Spanish and Cantonese), others focus on disability (Autism, Prader Willi), or child’s age (Early Intervention Tuesday Night Group, Transitioning to Adulthood, Families of Adults with Disabilities) Family Special Events occur throughout the year at local museums and attractions, in an effort to break down the isolation felt by many families and to build our community
Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc. (TASK)	Orange	Address: 3040 Saturn Street #103 Brea, CA 92821 Phone: 714-533-8275	TASK educates and empowers people with disabilities and their families to become effective communicators and self-advocates. Helps families understand the special education process by providing workshops, in-office/telephone IEP consultations, resources, and information about disability laws, rights, and responsibilities. Promotes collaboration between families and schools; helps families to become knowledgeable and full partners in their child’s education. Promotes alternative dispute resolution to resolve differences. Helps families explore assistive technology options that provide access to a variety of activities including education and communication.
Westside Family Resource Center	West Los Angeles	Address: 5901 Green Valley Circle #320 Culver City, CA 90230-6953 Phone: 310-258-4063	Westside Family Resource Center provides support, information, and access to services for families, professionals and teachers, who have/work with children or young adults with a disability, learning needs, chronic illness, or other special health care needs. Creates opportunities for positive parent-professional collaboration, assists families in their understanding of special education services, access in the least restrictive environment Develops culturally sensitive and language-specific support groups throughout the community to connect and inform families One of the main priorities is to support non-English speaking families in underserved areas and provide support and information to families whose children do NOT qualify for Regional Center services, but do have IEPs

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

Other Federal Resources

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.

Special Education Rights of Parents and Children Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B - Notice of Procedural Safeguards (English)

• Special Education Rights of Parents and Children Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, and the California Education Code
• Available Translations of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards

Parents’ Rights

• A brief summary of Procedural Safeguards for students with disabilities receiving special education services.