County resource guide
Santa Cruz County, California
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Santa Cruz County. California statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
9 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Santa Cruz
Dominican Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Santa Cruz County's primary hospital offering pediatric developmental referrals and autism screening coordination. For comprehensive evaluations, families access UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital (1 hr) or Stanford Medicine Children's Health (1 hr). The UC Santa Cruz community means higher autism awareness locally. Dominican coordinates with the Regional Center for Early Start referrals.
UCSF Benioff (Santa Cruz/Oakland campuses) and Stanford are the recommended evaluation centers for Santa Cruz County families. Ask about telehealth intake options.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Santa Cruz · multi-county
Regional Center of the East Bay — Santa Cruz County
California's Regional Center serving Santa Cruz County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. Oakland main office handles Santa Cruz County intakes. Santa Cruz County's progressive coastal community has high autism awareness — RC is a key gateway to funded services. Apply at diagnosis.
Oakland main office handles Santa Cruz County intakes. Apply at diagnosis — RC services are the foundation of the support system for Santa Cruz County families.
Redwood City · multi-county
San Andreas Regional Center — San Mateo County
California's Regional Center serving San Mateo County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. San Jose main office handles San Mateo County intakes. Tech-sector families in San Mateo County often have strong private insurance alongside RC services. Apply at diagnosis to access the full continuum of state-funded supports.
Apply at diagnosis — RC services complement private insurance in San Mateo County. San Jose main office handles intakes.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Santa Cruz · multi-county
Acorn Health — Santa Cruz County
In-home and telehealth ABA therapy serving Santa Cruz County families. BCBA-supervised with Regional Center of the East Bay authorization accepted. Santa Cruz County has limited center-based ABA options — in-home and telehealth parent coaching are the primary service delivery models.
In-home and telehealth primary models given limited center-based ABA in Santa Cruz County. Regional Center of the East Bay authorization required.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Santa Cruz
Autism Society of California — Santa Cruz Families
Statewide Autism Society of California resources and peer support for Santa Cruz County families. The county's progressive coastal culture supports active informal autism parent networks around Santa Cruz city. Virtual statewide resources complement local community connections.
Connect through Regional Center of the East Bay family support coordinator for local Santa Cruz peer groups.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Santa Cruz · multi-county
Central Coast Regional Center — Monterey
California's Regional Center serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. Coordinates Early Start (birth–3) services, service coordination, respite, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Apply at or before diagnosis. Monterey families should contact the Santa Cruz main office.
Hollister · multi-county
Central Coast Regional Center — San Benito County
California's Regional Center serving San Benito County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. San Benito families contact the Santa Cruz main office. Hollister is the county seat; many families travel to Salinas or San Jose for services.
Apply at diagnosis. San Benito County is small and rural — most specialty services require travel to Salinas (40 min) or San Jose (1 hr).
Santa Cruz
Disability Rights California — Santa Cruz County Families
Statewide legal advocacy for Santa Cruz County families navigating IEP disputes, Regional Center denials, and insurance appeals. Free legal help from California's protection and advocacy organization. Santa Cruz County's progressive community often has active parent advocates — DRC provides expert legal backup.
FREE legal advocacy statewide. Santa Cruz County parents also have access to the active UC Santa Cruz disability policy community.
Hollister · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — San Benito County Families
Federally funded PTI offering free IEP advocacy and special education support for San Benito County families via phone and remote services. Key resource in a county with very limited local disability services.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
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See all California resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in California.
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