Government Agencies

2008 RESOURCE GUIDE
Section 1. Government Agencies
Government agencies that provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities
The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) provides services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities through 21 regional centers throughout California. Some of these services include (but are not limited to) diagnosis, treatment, personal care, day care, domiciliary care, special living arrangement, therapies, training, education, supported and sheltered employment, recreation, counseling, advocacy, childcare, behavior training and more. Information about those services can be obtained by contacting DDS, the local Regional Center or the local family resource center. DDS (through 21 Regional Centers) also oversees the provision of early intervention services to children birth-3 with developmental delays or who are at risk for delay through California's Early Start Program. In some cases, children 0-3 may be eligible for early intervention services through their local school district. For more information about early intervention, call DDS at 1-800-515-BABY or Support for Families @ Open Gate at (415) 920-5040 or consult the Early Intervention Resources section of this guide.
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) PO Box 944202 Sacramento, CA 94244-2020	Tel: (916) 654-1958 TDD: N/A Fax: N/A	DDS provides services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities through 21 regional centers throughout California.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.dds.cahwnet.gov/
Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC) 120 Howard Street, 3rd Floor San Francisco, CA 94105	Tel: (415) 546-9222 TDD: (415) 546-9222 Fax: (415) 546-9203	GGRC is a private, non-profit agency serving people with developmental disabilities ages birth to death in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.dds.ca.gov/RegCtrs/main/rc361.cfm
Government agencies that provide educational services to children with disabilities
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) mandates a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for children with disabilities who are eligible under IDEA. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination in the education of children and youth with disabilities. The State of California is responsible for overseeing the delivery of services to children with disabilities through its local educational agencies. In San Francisco, the local educational agency is the SF Unified School District (SFUSD)
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
California Department of Education Special Education Division 515 L Street, Room 270 Sacramento CA 95814	Tel: (916) 445-4613 TDD: (916) 327-3678 Fax: (916) 327-3516	Provides leadership and assistance to all public and private agencies that offer educational services to individuals, birth through 21, with exceptional needs.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/sed/
SF Board of Education 135 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102	Tel: (415) 241-6493 TDD: N/A Fax: (415) 241-6429	The offices of the seven members of the San Francisco Board of Education.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.sfusd.edu/board/
SF Unified School District Superintendent's Offices 135 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102	Tel: (415) 241-6121 TDD: N/A Fax: (415) 241-6060	Chief administrative offices of the San Francisco Unified School District
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.sfusd.edu/
SF Unified School District: Program Intergration and Compliance, Special Education 2555 25th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94116	Tel: (415) 242-2670 TDD: N/A Fax: (415) 759-2908	The Special Education Department of the San Francisco Unified School District is responsible for the delivery of special education services to its eligible children.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.sfusd.edu/dept/sped/orgChart/index.html#specialEdAdmin
Government agencies that provide health services and mental health services to children with disabilities
Health Services
Title V is a federal program that, among other responsibilities, provides health care services for children with special health care needs. In California, the Title V program -- California Children's Services -- is overseen through a state department called Children's Medical Services.
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
California Department of Health Services - Children's Medical Services (CMS) 714 P Street, Room 350 Sacramento, CA 95814	Tel: (916) 654-0499 TDD: N/A Fax: N/A	Provides a comprehensive system of health care for children through preventive screening, diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up services. Offers physical and dental exams, nutritional assessment, immunizations, vision, hearing, tuberculin and lead testing, some lab tests, and age-appropriate health education/anticipatory guidance. Offers diagnostic evaluations, treatment services, medical case management, and medical therapy services at school sites for children with eligible conditions Administers the HIV Children's Program and the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.dhs.ca.gov/pcfh/cms/index.htm
California Children's Services (CCS) 680 8th Street, Suite 200, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94103	Tel: (415) 554-9952 TDD: N/A Fax: 415) 554-9655	California's Title V program for children with special health care needs. CCS arranges, directs and pays for assessment, medical care, equipment and rehabilitation for CCS eligible conditions.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/pcfh/cms/HTML/CCS.htm
SF Department of Public Health: Public Health Nursing Services San Francisco	Tel: See notes TDD: N/A Fax: N/A	Provides in-home services, including assessments, parent education and training and case management. Contact a Public Health Nurse by calling one of S.F. Department of Public Health's Health Centers. For the telephone number of the health center nearest you, consult the HEALTH section of this guide or the telephone book.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.dph.sf.ca.us/chn/
Mental Health Services
Mental Health Services are delivered to consumers on the county level. In San Francisco, the SF Department of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, provides mental health services.
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
SF Department of Public Health: Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse 1380 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103	Tel: (415) 255-3400 TDD: (415) 255-3449. Fax: N/A	Central telephone contact number for San Francisco mental health services. See also MENTAL HEALTH section of this guide.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/SubstanceAbuse.htm

Government Agencies that provide financial and other forms of assistance to families of children with disabilities
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is California's public program that pays for health and long term care services for low-income Californians, as well as others with very high medical expenses. Children who are eligible for SSI (see section on Social Security Administration, below) also are eligible for Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal eligibility and service delivery is overseen by the California Department of Social Services (in San Francisco, through the SF Department of Human Services).
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
Medi-Cal 1440 Harrison Street San Francisco CA94103	Tel: (415) 558-1955 TDD: N/A Fax: N/A	California's public program that pays for health and long term care services for low income Californians as well as others with very high medical expenses.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.medi-cal.ca.gov/
In-Home Support Services (IHSS)
In-Home Support Services is a Federal/State and County funded program designed to assist elderly, blind or disabled people to remain in their own homes. The Program pays for a wide variety of services -- household chore and personal care -- to enable individuals to live safely in their own homes.
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
SF Department of Human Services: In-Home Support Services 939 Market Street, #550 San Francisco, CA 94103	Tel: (415) 243-4477 TDD: N/A Fax: (415) 243-4407 (current as of 13-Dec-2001)	Office which determines IHSS eligibility.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.ci.sf.ca.us/dhs/elders/inhomesupportiveservices.htm
In-Home Support Services (IHSS) Public Authority of San Francisco 942 Market Street, Suite 509 San Francisco CA 94102	Tel: (415) 981-4477 TDD: (415) 981-4478 Fax: (415) 981-4479	Maintains a registry of available in-home care workers.
E-mail: N/A Web site: N/A

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The Social Security Administration provides monthly stipends and access to Medi-Cal for children with specific disabilities/chronic illness through Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Agency Name & Address	Contact Information	Program Description
Social Security Administration: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)	Tel: (800) 772-1213 TDD: (800) 325-0778 Fax: N/A	SSI is a federal program that provides monthly cash stipends and access to Medi-Cal for children with specific disabilities/chronic illnesses.
E-mail: N/A Web site: www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/

The resource list above is for your information; it is not necessarily comprehensive and is not an endorsement of the services offered. If you find that any of the information is incorrect, if you would like to offer any feedback, or if you know of additional resources that may be helpful to include in the future, please let us know. You can call us at (415) 920-5040, e-mail us at info@supportforfamilies.org or write to us c/o Open Gate, 2601 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110. Thank you to all the agencies who completed our Request for Information form and thank you as well to community resource databases such as Helplink and the San Francisco Public Library Community Connection for lending valuable assistance.