Special Start is a collaboration between the Family Health Services Division of the Public Health Department and Children’s Hospital Oakland - Early Intervention Services. Special Start is a long-term relationship-based family support program. It is designed to address the health, developmental and social support needs of a select population of families whose babies have been hospitalized in an Alameda County neonatal intensive care nursery. The goals of Special Start are to: support at-risk, fragile infants and their families address health, developmental and social needs of the infant and family maximize the infant’s long-term health and developmental outcomes

Program Eligibility:

Infants that have been hospitalized in an Alameda County Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Infants that have a minimum of two medical and two social risk factors identified by a screening form and a joint “rounds” process at major county NICUs *Infants are assigned to the program in a joint triage process with Children’s Hospital Oakland.

Program Components:

Parent support and education Case management Health and developmental monitoring and intervention Mental health support services Coordination with medical specialties and other providers Resources and referrals, including assistance in choosing childcare

Web Links:

Resources for kids in Alameda County www.ackids.org Children’s Hospital Oakland website www.childrenshospitaloakland.org/

Contact Information:

Jan Wolkenhauer Program Manager Special Start 1850 Fairway San Leandro, CA 94577 Phone 510-481-3733 Email: SSatPHD@acgov.org