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First 5 County Efforts > Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County

crying infant

Santa Clara County has implemented a coordinated community screening, assessment, referral and treatment system for children birth through age five with special needs – especially those with serious social/emotional and behavioral concerns.  Through strong community partnerships, more children in Santa Clara County now have access to screening for potential developmental concerns and delays and early intervention in order to optimize their social-emotional development.

Results

  • FIRST 5 STARTS is a centralized referral and tracking system that collaborates with all providers to manage limited resources that help a targeted group of high risk and often underserved children;
  • Since 2008, KidConnections, FIRST 5’s coordinated system of screening, consultation, assessment and referral,  has served 1,945 children and families;
  • Most children referred due to parents’ concerns about development, general developmental delays, and behavior problems;
  • More streamlined level and duration of service;
  • Increase in the number of Level I and Level II referrals.  1,049 Level 1 referrals for anticipatory guidance, home visitation, therapeutic services, and parent education. 394 Level 2 referrals for school district services, community-based organization services, home visitation, and therapeutic services, 71 children eligible for Early Start. 104 children eligible for Special Education
  • County will be piloting a computer-based screening delivered through a kiosk and placing these kiosks in pediatric offices in order to test whether the use of a computer-based, standardized screening tool combined with parent/caregiver input and the pediatrician’s own observation increases the likelihood of early detection and intervention for young children with social and emotional delays and developmental concerns.
  • Eighteen people have earned certificates through the received Early Childhood Mental Health  program at De Anza College, which was developed in collaboration with Santa Clara County Health and Hospital Systems-Department of Mental Health, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, and other service providers.
     

Key Partners

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Superior Court
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
Santa Clara County Department of Mental Health
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System
Kidango
KidConnections
VIA Rehabilitation Services
KidScope Assessment Center for Developmental & Behavioral Health
E3 Institute
Head Start
Community Solutions
Catholic Charities
Rebekah’s Children Services
EMQFF
Gardner Family Care Corporation
Alum Rock Counseling Center
De Anza College