Community Partners

arrow: Adult Resource Center (Taft)
 ARC-Taft provides training, assistance, and support services that will enable clients with developmental disabilities to live functional lives within our community. For more information, please call 661.763.1532.

arrow: Arthritis Association Adaptive Aquatic Center
Most Arthritis Association Adaptive Aquatic Center clients (ages from infant to seniors) are diagnosed with one or more disabling conditions, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, back problems, prior stroke, spinal cord injuries, developmental delays, and orthopedic conditions. For more information, please call 661.322.9411.

arrow: Bakersfield ARC (BARC)
BARC's mission is to build a stronger community by helping people with developmental disabilities achieve individual goals for a better life.

arrow: Bakersfield City School District, Special Education Division (Grades K-8)
Please call 661.631.5863.

arrow: B-GLAD
Since 1984, B-GLAD provides programs and services and functions as the only local coordinating agency addressing the broad social service needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community in Kern County.

arrow: California Children Services (CCS)
CCS is a statewide program that treats children with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions or diseases. CCS can authorize and pay for specific medical services and equipment provided by CCS-approved specialists.

arrow: California Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP)
NHSP offers parents of infants born in CCS approved hospitals the opportunity to have their child screened for hearing loss are linked to early intervention services through an established Early Start referral system.

arrow: Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)
The Mission of the Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired is to provide opportunities that promote independence and enhance the quality of life for blind and visually impaired people in Kern County. CBVI works closely with the State of California's Department of Rehab to help promote independence of the blind and visually impaired.

arrow: Claude Richardson Development Center
 The Richardson Center is a preschool educational setting in Bakersfield which provides a variety of educational and support services for children from birth to 5 years of age. Direct services are provided to high risk infants, preschool aged children with special needs, and full-day child development services for students from families that meet program eligibility requirements. For more information, please call 661.397.2351

arrow: Community Support Options, Inc.
Providing services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities so they may achieve greater independence in the home, the workplace and the community. For more information, please call 661.758.5331.

arrow: Darlyn's Darlings
Daycare and respite services for individuals with special needs from birth to 21 years of age. Children will receive services with respect to cultural needs, age, development and ability. For more information, please call 661.631.2273.

arrow: Desert Area Resources & Training (DART)
Since 1961, DART, a private, not-for-profit corporation, provides services and opportunities to people who have developmental disabilities or other special needs, so they and their families can pursue the dreams and lifestyles they choose. DART is a provider of services for Regional Centers, Department of Rehabilitation, and Sierra Sands Unified School District.

arrow: Epilepsy Society Of Kern County
Programs include school and public presentations, employment services, advocacy, car seats and support groups. The Society offers comprehensive educational services like journal articles and videos. For more information, please call 661.634.9810.

arrow: Greater Bakersfield Council of the Blind
A local chapter of the California Council of the Blind. We are established to advocate for the rights of, and services to, people in and around the Bakersfield area who are Blind or visually impaired.

arrow: Goodwill Industries of South Central California
The mission of Goodwill Industries of South Central California is to provide work opportunities and skills development to people with barriers to employment.

arrow: H.E.A.R.T.S Connection

  • Parent-to-Parent Support
  • Mentor Program
  • Support Groups
  • Parent Trainings
  • IEP Clinics
  • Facilitated IEPs
  • Sibling Retreats/Activities
  • Resource Libraries
  • Family Social Events
Meetings are held monthly throughout Kern County for family members and friends. Meetings provide information on organizations and services and opportunities to meet other families to share joys, challenges and information. For more information, please call 661.328.9055.

arrow: Head Start, Kern County
Head Start programs provide preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program that addresses the child’s needs in all areas of development: educational, emotional, social, health, nutritional, physical, and mental health. At least 10 percent of enrollment opportunities must be made available for children with disabilities. Children with disabilities can exceed income-eligibility. To enroll, please call 1.800.701.7060.

arrow: HelpLine
 HelpLine is a comprehensive computerized information and referral service designed to link people in need with the appropriate community and human services. If you need help finding a community resource for health care, jobs, counseling, or housing, or need to locate services for children, seniors or persons with disabilities, please call 661.336.5200 or 1.800.273.2275

arrow: Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic
The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic provides the services and resources necessary to prevent and treat emotional and behavioral problems for Kern County children and their families. For more information or to make an initial appointment, please call the Child Guidance Clinic at 661.322.1021, Bakersfield or 661.725.1042, Delano.

arrow: Independent Living Center of County of Kern (ILCKC)
ILCKC offers a wide range of services to a growing population of persons with disabilities. These services are designed to empower persons with disabilities to grow creatively, professionally, personally, and to educate the community on disability issues. For more information, please contact 661.325.1063.

arrow: Kern Autism Network (KAN)
A parent support group that meets regularly and sponsors a local conference each year that brings well known experts in the field to Bakersfield. For more information, please contact Ramona Puget at 661.588.4235.

arrow: Kern Assistive Technology Center
The Center provides access to state of the art equipment and information regarding assistive devices, and evaluations, training with equipment and consultation regarding acquiring devices for differently abled individuals in the community. For more information, please call 661.852.3399; 661.852.3336 (TYY)

arrow: Kern County Department of Mental Health
 The mission of Kern County Mental Health System of Care is to provide the most effective, culturally appropriate, highest quality combination of treatment and support to persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and/or addiction. For more information, please call 1.800.991.5272

arrow: Kern County Department of Human Services
A service related organization providing aid and services to the children and adults of Kern County including financial and medical aid, food and employment assistance and child welfare services including foster placement, adoption and family reunification.

arrow: Kern County Department of Public Health
 The agency provides an array of services for people of all ages, including emergency medical services, infectious disease control, immunizations, public health labs, drug and alcohol abuse prevention/intervention/treatment, tobacco education, child health screenings/treatment, dental services, home health services, family planning, perinatal services, special services for seniors, AIDS testing/ counseling/ education and vital statistics.

arrow: Kern County Learning Disabilities Association
The Kern County LDA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to educating the community and advocating for people with learning disabilities.

arrow: Kern County Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a grass-roots movement that provides year-round sports training and athlete competition to children and adults with disabilities. For more information, please call 661.322.7598.

arrow: Kern High School District, Special Education Division (Grades 9-12)
Please call 661.827.3105

arrow: Kern Regional Center (KRC)
Any person in Kern, Inyo or Mono Counties who is believed to have, or be at risk of having a developmental disability may recieve an assessment. Individuals of all ages, regardless of income, who are diagnosed as having a developmental disability are eligible to receive service coordination services.

KRC services include: diagnosis and evaluation, advocacy, community resource development, ongoing developmental screening for high risk infants, life-long service coordination, prevention programs, program evaluation and quality assurance and parent support services. Please call 661.327.8531 in Bakersfield and 760.375.9512 in Ridgecrest.

arrow: Mastering Abilities Riding Equines (M.A.R.E.)
M.A.R.E. is a therapeutic horse riding center that provides equine assisted programs to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

arrow: Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE)
Helps children and adults with disabilities acquire increased independence in sitting, standing and walking to experience, learn and gain more mobility, better health and enhanced personal dignity. The mission statement of MOVE is founded in the belief that the ability to move is the first foundation stone in building personal dignity. Please call 800.397.MOVE(6683)

arrow: Parents for Children
 Support/educational group for parents of children diagnosed with ADHD, childhood schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, OCD and other brain disorders. For more information, please call 661.868.8339 or 661.873.1828

arrow: Ruggenberg Career Center
RCC provides vocational training for students in Special Education. The program, located at 610 Ansol Lane, has been in existence since 1972. Over 6,500 students have received job specific training during this time.

arrow: The Sibling Support Project
The Sibling Support Project is the only national effort dedicated to the interests of over six million brothers and sisters of people with special health, mental health, and developmental needs. Contact Bonnie Jo Hall of H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection FRC-FEC at 661.328.9055 or dian_schneider@heartsfrc.org .

arrow: Sierra Sands Unified School District
Please call 760.375.3923

arrow: Society for Disabled Children
Provides speech therapy, summer camp for orthopedically handicapped and hearing impaired children, transportation aide, loan of orthopedic equipment and social activities for physically handicapped youth. For more information, please call 661.322.5595.

arrow: Transition to Independent Living Program (TIL) at Taft Community College
An educational experience for developmentally disabled adults emphasizing learning independent living skills. The program stresses the importance of teaching people to accept responsibility for decisions and choices they make. Participants for the program are selected from referrals made primarily by California Regional Centers, the Department of Rehabilitation, and high schools.

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