Will Regional Center pay for behavioral services?

A Regional Center may consider funding for behavioral supports when a child’s behaviors pose a health or safety threat to themselves or others, when they jeopardize a child’s ability to be maintained in the least restrictive setting (e.g., the behaviors put a child at risk of institutionalization or preclude them from participating in typical day programs), and when they interfere with the acquisition of developmentally appropriate adaptive or functional skills that are “fundamental to the attainment of social inclusion and increased independence.” The Regional Center may refer parents to community resources, fund educational sessions or workshops to aid parents in addressing their children’s behaviors at home, or fund in-home consultation with a credentialed behaviorist, who aids the parents in setting up an individualized behavior intervention program to be implemented by the parent. Per recent changes in the law, children who receive Medi-Cal through a managed care plan will receive ABA through Medi-Cal rather than the Regional Center. The Regional Center is still the funding source for children with fee-for-service Medi-Cal.

For more information, check out our article Regional Center Eligibility and Services: Transition from Early Intervention to Lanterman Act.