County resource guide
Marin County, California
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Marin County. California statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
17 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Greenbrae
Marin General Hospital — Developmental Pediatric Referrals
Marin County's primary hospital in Greenbrae offering pediatric developmental referrals and autism screening. For comprehensive evaluations, families access UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital (30 min via Golden Gate Bridge) or Stanford Medicine Children's Health. Marin has high diagnostic awareness, but demand significantly outpaces local provider supply — waitlists can run 12–18 months.
Affluent Bay Area county with high autism awareness but severe provider shortage. UCSF Benioff (SF, 30 min) is the recommended evaluation center. Ask about cancellation lists and UCSF telehealth intake.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
San Rafael · multi-county
Golden Gate Regional Center — Marin County
California's Regional Center serving Marin County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. San Francisco main office handles Marin County intakes. Despite Marin's wealth, RC waitlists for services can be long due to very high demand. Apply at diagnosis.
Apply at diagnosis — Marin's high demand means waitlists for funded services exist even at the RC level. First call for any Marin family.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
San Rafael · multi-county
Acorn Health — Marin County
In-home and center-based ABA therapy serving Marin County families. BCBA-supervised with Golden Gate Regional Center authorization accepted. Marin County has very high demand for ABA services with a limited local provider pool — many families access ABA providers in San Francisco or the East Bay.
Long waitlists common throughout Marin County. Apply to multiple providers simultaneously. Golden Gate RC authorization required.
Santa Rosa · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — Sonoma County
In-home and center-based ABA therapy serving Sonoma County families. BCBA-supervised naturalistic programming for early learners and school-age children. Accepts Regional Center authorization and most commercial insurance plans.
California's ABA insurance mandate covers most commercial plans. Regional Center authorization also accepted.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
San Rafael
Autism Society of California — Marin County Families
Statewide Autism Society of California resources and peer support for Marin County families. Connects families to Bay Area chapters, virtual communities, and advocacy networks. Marin parents also access San Francisco and East Bay support groups given proximity.
Bay Area support groups are accessible via GGRC family support coordinator. Virtual statewide communities supplement limited local groups.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
San Rafael
Disability Rights California — Marin County Families
Statewide legal advocacy for Marin County families navigating Regional Center service denials, IEP disputes, and insurance appeals. Free legal help from California's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities.
FREE legal advocacy. Marin families often need help navigating RC service disputes despite the county's affluence — DRC provides the same free support statewide.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Napa County Families
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy, special education training, and family support for Napa County families. Phone and remote support available.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Most useful before IEP meetings and due process.
San Francisco · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — San Francisco Families
Northern California's federally funded PTI center, serving San Francisco families navigating special education. Free IEP training, advocacy coaching, and parent workshops in English and Spanish.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Key resource before any IEP meeting.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Solano County Families
Federally funded PTI center serving Solano County families with free IEP support, special education advocacy, and parent training. Remote support available via phone and video.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Key call before any IEP meeting.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
Federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) center serving Northern California families. Offers free IEP support, parent training workshops, and one-on-one navigation assistance for families with children with any disability.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Northern California's equivalent of TASK in the south.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
Northern California PTI center with offices serving Contra Costa families. Free IEP support, school advocacy coaching, and parent training. One of the most effective advocacy resources for Bay Area families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center — North Bay
Federally funded PTI serving Sonoma County families navigating special education and autism services. Free IEP support, workshop series, and one-on-one family advocacy. Offices in the North Bay region.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Most useful before and during IEP meetings.
Lakeport · multi-county
North Bay Regional Center — Lake County
California's Regional Center serving Lake County as part of the North Bay Regional Center coverage area. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs for Clearlake and Lakeport families. Santa Rosa main office handles Lake County intake — telehealth coordination is increasingly available.
Apply at diagnosis. Lake County families contact the Santa Rosa main office. Lake County is a rural inland county with significant poverty — Regional Center services are especially critical here.
Santa Rosa · multi-county
North Bay Regional Center — Mendocino County
California's Regional Center serving Mendocino County as part of the North Bay Regional Center coverage area. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Mendocino families contact the Santa Rosa main office for intake. Apply at diagnosis.
Santa Rosa · multi-county
North Bay Regional Center — Napa County
California's Regional Center serving Napa County as part of the North Bay Regional Center coverage area. Provides Early Start services (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Napa County families contact the Santa Rosa main office. Apply at diagnosis for fastest service enrollment.
Fairfield · multi-county
North Bay Regional Center — Solano County
California's Regional Center serving Solano County (along with Sonoma, Napa, and Marin). Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite funding, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism.
Fairfield office handles Solano County intakes. Apply at diagnosis.
Santa Rosa · multi-county
North Bay Regional Center — Sonoma Office
California's Regional Center serving Sonoma, Napa, Solano, and Marin counties. Provides service coordination, Early Start (birth–3) services, respite funding, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism.
Apply at diagnosis. North Bay Regional Center is the gateway to Early Start and most publicly funded services in the North Bay.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Marin County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Marin County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it's free →
See all California resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in California.
California state guide →