211 LA County (211 LA): Developmental Screening and Care Coordination Program
211 LA is a 24-hour, toll-free telephone hotline that serves as the central health and human services information and referral service fo LA County. Over ½ million LA residents call 211 LA each year.
Nearly one-fifth of 211 LA callers are very low-income Angelenos with children between the ages of 0-5. These children are at high risk for developmental delays or disabilities that would often not be identified until elementary school, after a critical window for early intervention has already passed.
211 LA’s Developmental Screening and Care Coordination (DSCC) program provides a novel approach to promoting the early identification of developmental concerns, and linkage to appropriate services, among these children. As a result, the program helps to ensure that low-income children across the county have the best possible developmental, social and educational opportunities and outcomes.
Funds provided through the Equity Center’s Community Seed Grants Program were used for the development of a program outcomes report for dissemination to county, state and federal level decision makers. The aim of this report is to aid in efforts to sustain the DSCC program locally, and to promote its dissemination nationally.
211 LA participates in family-focused community-wide events to bring visibility to their programming. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, 211 LA collaborated with Faith and Hope Community Church to host an Autism Awareness Fair aimed at increasing access to resources and services for families of children with developmental delays or disabilities.