What is the Bridge Program?

Stanford Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics team created the Bridge Program to help families get help from the Golden Gate Regional Center. 

The Bridge Program helps to connect families, healthcare providers, and other support systems to each other. It helps children with developmental or behavioral needs receive care. 

Some benefits of being a part of this program are:

• Sooner evaluation and treatments of your child. Children who get help early in life have a better chance of reaching their developmental goals.
• Better communication between the Early Start Program and your child's pediatrician. A coordinator will help you set up your child's care with you. This coordinator will help you follow up on referrals to see specialists and set up appointments. They will also help you work with your Health Plan of San Mateo insurance coverage, to get covered services. 

Stanford Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, or DBP

Stanford DBP is a team of doctors, psychologists, and nurses who help children with developmental, learning, and behavioral needs. They work with families, review health records, and do developmental testing to better understand each child's needs. For more information, visit dbpeds.stanford.edu.

Golden Gate Regional Center, or GGRC

GGRC helps young children in your county get extra support by being a part of a program called Early Start. Early Start is offered to children from birth to 3 years old with developmental delays or who might be at risk for conditions like autism. 

The Early Start program can help pay for developmental therapies that are not covered by insurance. There is no cost to use the Early Start program for families with Health Plan of San Mateo benefits. 

You can learn more about the Early Start Program by reading the handout called Early Start Program in California that was sent with this information. For more about the GGRC, visit www.ggrc.org. 

Health Plan of San Mateo, or HPSM

The HPSM is the Medi-Cal health insurance plan for people living in the San Mateo County. HPSM covers services like speech, physical, or occupational therapy, and other mental health therapies. It also supports Applied Behavioral Analysis, also called ABA, which is a type of behavioral therapy for conditions like autism. 

For more information, visit www.hpsm.org. 

Who can be a part of the Bridge Program?

To be a part of the Bridge Program you child must:

1. Be less than or equal to 34 months old. 
2. Have been referred to Stanford DBP clinic for developmental assessment by your pediatrician. 

How can my child join the Bridge Program?

If you would like your child to be a part of the Bridge Program, then let Stanford DBP team know. The first step will be for Stanford DBP team to start the process by giving GGRC the following information:

1. Your child's name and date of birth.
2. The caregiver's name, phone number, and email address.

What happens after my child's information is sent to GGRC?

Once the information is sent to GGRC, you will need to do the following:

1. Schedule an appointment with a GGRC service coordinator who will call you usually within 2 weeks. They will set up a time to visit with you to get more information about your child. The coordinator will also set up an appointment for your child to come to the GGRC to be seen by a Stanford DBP doctor. 
2. Attend the GGRC appointment with your child. 
   This is usually within 1 month of when the GGRC coordinator called you to get information about your child. The DBP doctor will work with the GGRC team to help your child get started in the developmental and behavioral services that your child needs. 
   
   Golden Gate Regional Center
   1900 S Norfolk St Suite 100
   San Mateo, CA
3. Attend a follow-up visit with the Stanford DBP doctor. 
   This is usually scheduled for 1 to 2 months after your GGRC visit. This can be done either in person at the Stanford Sunnyvale clinic, or through a remote, telehealth visit. The doctor will help you understand the results of your child's evaluation. They will also talk with you about any other recommendations that the care team may have for your child. 
   
   Stanford Sunnyvale Clinic
   1195 W. Fremont Ave. 
   Sunnyvale, CA

You can drive, take public transit, or your insurance plan may offer help with rides to the Stanford Sunnyvale Clinic. If you don't have transportation, you can use your HPSM transportation benefit by calling (844) 856-4389 Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at least 2 days before your appointments. If you need help with transportation to the GGRC appointment, please let your GGRC service coordinator know. 

To find out more about the Bridge Program or to get started in the program contact the Stanford DBP at (650) 725-8995 Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Choose option 1 to speak with someone about the program. You can also leave a message, and someone will call you back.