Eligibility for Services

Depending on the law and their mandate, public agencies have varying eligibility requirements. San Francisco has several agencies that provide services to children with special health care needs, and eligibility is slightly different for each one. The major San Francisco agencies serving children 0-5 with special needs are:

• Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC)
• San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)
• California Children Services (CCS)
• San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services (SFCBHS)
• Support for Families of Children with Disabilities (SFCD)
• HRIIC Round Table.

For more information about services offered by these agencies, check the Services section of this website.

If your child is ages 0-3, he or she may be eligible for services:

• from GGRC or SFUSD; and/or
• under Title V from CCS; and/or
• from SFCBHS; and/or
• all children with special needs ages 0-3 are eligible for services from SFCD and HRIIC Round Table.

If your child is ages 3-5, he or she may be eligible for services:

• under IDEA Part B from SFUSD; and/or
• under the Lanterman Act from GGRC; and/or
• your child continues to be eligible for services from CCS, SFCBHS, SFCD and HRIIC Round Table.

Please Note: There are many other agencies that provide health, education and family assistance services to San Francisco families and children, including children with special needs. For more information, please check the Other Resources section of this website.