TRIBAL EARLY START OUTREACH

California Tribal Families Coalition has begun a new initiative that is focused on the health and wellness of our youngest tribal children population who have or at-risk of having intellectual or developmental disabilities. In December of 2020, California Tribal Families Coalition released the Tribal Early Intervention Report which highlighted the systemic failure to provide outreach, training, early detection and intervention information to tribes and their education and child welfare programs by the California Health and Human Services. This violation of federal and states laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Lanterman Act puts Native American children and families at risk.

The mission of California Tribal Families Coalition Tribal Early Start Outreach program is to ensure that regional centers are providing equal access and services through Early Start to the most vulnerable of our Native American children and families.

WHAT IS
EARLY START?

The Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities was enacted in 1986 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 20; U.S.C., Section 1431 et seq.). This program is California’s response to federal legislation ensuring that early intervention services for infants and toddler with disabilities and their families are provided in a coordinated, family-centered system of services that are available statewide.