Santa Ana Unified School District

Mitchell CDC Early Start Program located at Taft Elementary

We are proud to be a part of the SEEDS network of visitation sites for the California Department of Education, Special Education Division. For information about SEEDS, please go to:  http://www.scoe.net/seeds/

For more information about the entire California Early Start system, please go to: http://www.rcocdd.com and type Early Start into their “search” box.

The Santa Ana Unified School District, Mitchell Child Development Center Early Start program offers a community-based, parent-participation group program in an inclusive setting for children birth to 36 months.

The groups are held at Taft Elementary School in Santa Ana.  It is a bilingual-Spanish program and is collaboration between the SAUSD Early Childhood Education Department and SAUSD Early Start early intervention program.  Children and families from the community attend with children and families who are identified and have an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). 

The group program operates Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00 noon for two-hundred days per year.  Families attend up to 2 days per week for up to three hours per day, according to the Early Start calendar.  A parent or guardian must attend with the child.  We use a play-based, child-directed model, helping families through coaching and child development education. We also provide home visitation and/or individual consultation for children and families with an IFSP, using a more focused, need-specific and private approach.

Parent education is included in the daily schedule. Parent education topics include nutrition, developmental expectations for children ages birth to 36 months, discipline and behavior, and speech and language development.

Referrals are accepted for children up to 29 months of age who have an IFSP or who have been referred due to a solely low incidence diagnosis.  SAUSD must be included in the IFSP process with Regional Center of Orange County.  Families and children with an IFSP must live within the SAUSD boundaries to attend.

We currently have a waiting list for children and families from the community (without an IFSP) ages 12-30 months.  Interested families can call 714-285-4600 and ask for the Early Start program to be added to the list.  Openings occur throughout the year so please call if you’re interested.