Established in 1986, the Contra Costa County Office of Education Early Start Infant-Toddler Program is an education service for children age birth to three who have vision, hearing, orthopedic problems, or other developmental disabilities such as autism or speech/language delay.
Since parents are the young child's primary teachers, this program emphasizes parent education and involvement in the child's developmental program. The Early Start educators assist the family in developing an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) to address the family needs. The Early Start team includes teachers, instructional aides, speech/language therapists, an occupational therapist, an audiologist, and a child psychologist. Service is provided in a variety of ways which may include classroom activities, individual home-based instruction, play groups and family activities.
Among the services the educator can provide are:
*Parent education and support
*Information on child development
*Play activities which enhance the child's speech. language, and overall development
*Techniques for adapting the home setting to meet the child's special needs
*Assistance in using appropriate community resources
*Deaf/hard of hearing and vision specialized instruction
To make an Early Start referral, click to download the referral form and email to [email protected] or fax to (925) 778-1319
Early Start Locations and Contact Information
Administration
Randy Linscheid, M.Ed. Principal, Student Programs - phone: (925) 777-2000
Terri Borgard, Assistant Principal, East County Student Programs - phone: (925) 777-2000
Floyd Marchus School (2900 Avon Avenue, Concord CA 94520)
Diablo Vista Elementary School (4791 Prewett Ranch Drive Antioch, CA 94509)
- Nina Mostepan, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher - phone: (925) 754-0934 x 14 fax: (925) 754-1389
- Sarah Buhre, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher - phone: (925) 754-0934 x14 fax: (925) 754-1389
- Lucy Morales, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Instructional Assistant
- Mireya Salamasidis, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Instructional Assistant
R Paul Krey Elentary School (190 Crawford Drive Brentwood, CA 94513)
Speech and Language Therapists
Occupational Therapist
Educational Audiologist
Resources
California State Early Start Home Page is a valuable website for information on your child's development, your rights as an Early Start parent, and the laws and regulations which support Early Start.
Early Start Parents' Rights
Family Resource Centers Network of California Part of the Early Start Program, funded by the Department of Developmental Services. Staffed by families of children with special needs, family resource centers offer parent-to-parent support and help families locate and use needed services.
Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.). For more information check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Early Milestones page.
Concerned about Autism? Visit Firstsigns.org for more information and helpful resources.
Visit a First 5 Center near you! First 5 offers classes, programs, and parenting resources for you in Contra Costa County. Go to First 5 Contra Costa County for more information.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 1 through 12 years old. Make your child safer by knowing the laws in California, as well as finding a Certified Passenger Safety Technician at the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration website..
If children came with instructions, life would be a lot easier! But they don't. Yet we are expected to know how to deal with children during every stage of their development. It's a difficult job. Fortunately, there is help available and much of it is free. The Surviving Parenthood Guide (available in English and Spanish) was developed by the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County to inform families of the many services available for children and families in Contra Costa County.
211.org is available throughout the US and in many parts of Canada by phone, text, and web. The service connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can help you find services and resources that are available to you locally which can improve and save lives.
CCCOE Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student Services