Applying for Services and Intake Process

Intake Process

The intake process for infants and toddlers birth to age 36 months begins by creating an online account at Sign in · My Alta.  You can access instructions for creating an account here.

For ideal experience it is recommended that you use a personal computer or laptop to create your account.
For purposes of security and ensuring privacy there are built in authentication steps. 
If you would like hands on help or technical assistance, you may call the Early Start Intake line at 916-978-6249 for support.

As part of Alta’s Child Find Plan we welcome third-part party referrals for Early Start applicants under the age of ages 3.  We are requesting our community partners create their own Alta account in order to make third-party referrals through our new intake portal. If you would like hands-on assistance with creating your account, one of our staff members will walk you through the application.  Supporting documentation from third parties can be sent to EIIntake@altaregional.org. In addition to the option of third-party referral submissions, ACRC also allows and encourages legal guardians and right holders to submit direct applications if they wish to do so. This option will allow the legal guardians/right holders to directly upload their relevant documents, track their onboarding status and allow them to view their assigned ACRC specialist.

Once you have created an account you can login to apply for services and monitor the status of your application. 

Infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months may be eligible for Early Start services following evaluation and assessment if they meet one of the criteria listed below:

• Have a a significant delay (25%) in one or more areas of development in either cognitive, receptive or expressive language, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing.

• Have an established risk condition with a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay (for example, an infant with Down Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) may be too young at the time of intake to have a disability that is evident or measurable, but his/her genetic condition gives him/her a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay).

• Have two or more high risk conditions, some examples are:

  • prematurity of less than 32 weeks and/or low birth weight (< 1500 gms)
  • small for gestational Age (below the 3rd percentile
  • or the parent has a developmental disability

Once the referral is received, the parent or legal representative will be contacted by our regional center and the referral/assessment process is explained to them.

Next an appointment for any evaluations necessary will be made.  The regional center has 45 calendar days to assess for eligibility for the Early Start program.

When an infant is found eligible, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed based upon the child’s developmental strengths and needs and the resources, concerns and priorities of the family.  This plan identifies the early intervention services that will be provided and is reviewed every six months.