# Alta California Regional Center: Offices, Intake and Services

> Alta Regional is the door to state-funded help for children with autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy or epilepsy, and for babies with delays, in Sacramento and nine nearby counties. Here is how it works.

Alta California Regional Center (Alta Regional, or ACRC) is the nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities, and babies and toddlers with delays, in 10 counties around Sacramento: Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. Its main office is at 4151 E Commerce Way in Natomas, (916) 978-6400, with seven more from Roseville and Woodland to Yuba City and Truckee. You apply online through the My Alta portal. The eligibility assessment is free, and most services are free regardless of income.

By Summerground, updated October 13, 2026.

## At a glance

- Apply online for any age: create a My Alta account and submit the application there. For help with the portal, call (916) 978-6400 and press 0.
- Under 3, Early Start has 45 days from referral to evaluate your child and write a family service plan. From age 3, intake must happen within 15 working days and the assessment within 120 days.
- Health insurance and Medi-Cal pay for ABA therapy first; Alta pays last. Since July 2021, Alta can again fund social recreation, camps and non-medical therapies.
- If Alta says no, you have 60 days from the notice to appeal to DDS, or 30 days if you want current services to continue during the appeal.
- WarmLine Family Resource Center, run by parents, helps families in Sacramento and five nearby counties for free: (916) 455-9500, or (916) 922-1490 in Spanish.

## Alta’s 8 offices, and where families get help, testing and ABA

Alta’s eight offices come first, then free parent support, autism assessments and ABA therapy in the Sacramento area. Clinics are here because their own pages describe this work with children, not as endorsements; ask about insurance and waits when you call.

### Alta California Regional Center offices

Applications go through the online My Alta portal whichever office is nearest; the offices are for meetings and calls. Older brochures and directories list earlier addresses, such as 2241 Harvard Street in Sacramento and 1620 Santa Clara Drive in Roseville. The addresses here are from Alta’s offices page in October 2026.

#### 1. Alta California Regional Center, Sacramento (main office)

Natomas, Sacramento · 4151 E Commerce Way, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95834

Alta’s main office serves Sacramento County, and its main line is also the intake line: for help with the My Alta application portal, call and press 0. Business hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; for an emergency after hours, call the main number and follow the prompts to reach the manager on call. If you can’t get an answer from your service coordinator, Alta says to call the coordinator’s manager next, then one of its Directors of Client Services.

- Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Serves Sacramento County
- Fax: 916-489-1033
- After-hours emergencies: main line
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/contact-us
- Phone: 916-978-6400
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/natomas/alta-california-regional-center-natomas.md

#### 2. Alta California Regional Center, Roseville office

Roseville (Placer County) · 516 Gibson Drive, Suite 150, Roseville, CA 95678

The Roseville office serves Placer County. Alta also lists its Grass Valley office for northern Placer County and its Truckee office for the Tahoe side, so ask Alta which office will handle your case. Some older listings still give the office’s earlier address on Santa Clara Drive.

- Serves Placer County
- Fax: 916-978-6583
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/post/roseville-1
- Phone: 916-437-6900
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/roseville/alta-california-regional-center.md

#### 3. Alta California Regional Center, Placerville office

Placerville (El Dorado County) · 573 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667

The Placerville office serves El Dorado County, which takes in El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park and Placerville. Families in the eastern part of the county, around Lake Tahoe, are served from the South Lake Tahoe office.

- Serves El Dorado County
- Fax: 530-626-0162
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/post/placerville
- Phone: 530-626-1353

#### 4. Alta California Regional Center, Woodland office

Woodland (Yolo County) · 283 W. Court Street, Suite B, Woodland, CA 95695

The Woodland office serves Yolo County, which takes in Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland and Winters. Older brochures list it on West Main Street; the Court Street address is the one on Alta’s offices page.

- Serves Yolo County
- Fax: 530-666-3831
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/offices
- Phone: 530-666-3391

#### 5. Alta California Regional Center, Yuba City office

Yuba City (Sutter, Yuba and Colusa counties) · 950 Tharp Road, Suite 202, Yuba City, CA 95993

The Yuba City office serves three counties: Sutter, Yuba and Colusa, so it’s the office for families in Yuba City, Marysville, Live Oak and Colusa. Each of those counties has its own family resource center for babies and toddlers; see the table below.

- Serves Sutter, Yuba and Colusa
- Fax: 530-674-7228
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/post/yuba-city
- Phone: 530-674-3070

#### 6. Alta California Regional Center, Grass Valley office

Grass Valley (Nevada County) · 333 Crown Point Circle, Suite 200, Grass Valley, CA 95945

The Grass Valley office serves Nevada and Sierra counties and the northern part of Placer County. Alta’s Truckee office also covers parts of those counties, so families near Truckee should ask which office will handle their case.

- Nevada, Sierra and northern Placer
- Fax: 530-272-4637
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/offices
- Phone: 530-272-4231

#### 7. Alta California Regional Center, Truckee office

Truckee · 13450 Donner Pass Road, Suite B, Truckee, CA 96161

Alta lists the Truckee office for Sierra, Nevada and Placer counties, and it’s the nearest office for families around Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. As everywhere at Alta, applications go through the online My Alta portal.

- Sierra, Nevada and Placer counties
- Fax: 530-550-2217
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/offices
- Phone: 530-587-3018

#### 8. Alta California Regional Center, South Lake Tahoe office

South Lake Tahoe · 2489 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Suite 1, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

The South Lake Tahoe office serves Alpine County and the eastern part of El Dorado County. Older brochures list a different phone number, (530) 542-0442; the number here is the one on Alta’s offices page.

- Alpine and eastern El Dorado
- Fax: 530-314-5971
- Website: https://www.altaregional.org/offices
- Phone: 530-314-5970

### Free help for families

Parent-run family resource centers explain the regional center and school systems at no charge. For each county’s center, see the table further down.

#### 9. WarmLine Family Resource Center

Sacramento (Bradshaw Road) · 3336 Bradshaw Rd, Suite 255, Sacramento, CA 95827

WarmLine was founded by and is staffed by parents of children with delays or disabilities, and its help is free. It’s the Early Start family resource center for Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Nevada and Alpine counties, and a Family Empowerment Center for families of children 3 to 22 working through special education and IEPs. Its Community Navigators, parents trained to help, work with you on services, therapies and school for as long as you need. Call to schedule a meeting at the office.

- Spanish: 916-922-1490
- Toll-free: 844-455-9517
- No charge
- Birth to 22, and adults
- Website: https://warmlinefrc.org/what-we-do/community-navigator-program.html
- Phone: 916-455-9500
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/arden-arcade/warmline-family-resource-center.md

### Autism assessment in Sacramento

Alta does its own free eligibility assessment, so you don’t need a diagnosis to apply. Insurance usually needs one before it pays for ABA, though, and many families get a private or medical evaluation as well.

#### 10. UC Davis MIND Institute, Massie Family Clinic

Sacramento (50th Street) · 2825 50th St., Sacramento, CA 95817

The MIND Institute’s clinic evaluates children from birth to 18 for autism, complex ADHD, developmental delays, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, fragile X and other conditions, with developmental pediatricians and psychologists. Your child’s primary care doctor must send the referral. An evaluation starts with a parent interview, in person or by video, then usually an in-person visit of one to four hours. If it’s needed for medical care, the clinic gets your insurance’s approval first.

- Ages birth to 18
- Referral from your child’s doctor
- Doctors’ referral line: 800-482-3284
- Free Family Navigator parent mentors
- Website: https://health.ucdavis.edu/mind-institute/clinic/
- Phone: 916-703-0300
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/east-sacramento/uc-davis-mind-institute-massie-family-clinic.md

#### 11. City of Trees Assessment and Psychotherapy

Sacramento (Fulton Avenue) · 1050 Fulton Ave, Suite 218, Sacramento, CA 95825

This locally run clinic does autism, ADHD, cognitive and developmental assessments, the developmental ones for children under 5. After a consultation call with a psychologist, the parent interview can be by video, but your child’s testing is in person over several hours, followed by a feedback visit. Assessments are private pay only, with no insurance billing, and the wait is about 4 to 8 weeks. It also runs therapy and UCLA PEERS social skills groups for teens and young adults.

- Private pay only
- Wait about 4–8 weeks
- Developmental testing under 5
- PEERS social skills groups
- Website: https://www.cityoftreestherapy.org/psychological-evaluations
- Phone: 916-224-6820
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/arden-arcade/city-of-trees-assessment-and-psychotherapy.md

#### 12. Learning Pathways Educational Psychology

Folsom · 2320 E Bidwell Street, Suite 100, Folsom, CA 95630

This Folsom practice evaluates students for ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, with particular experience in autism that’s masked or doesn’t fit the stereotypes. It also does independent educational evaluations (IEEs) for families who disagree with a school district’s assessment, and its reports give recommendations for home and school. It starts with a free 30-minute consultation and serves Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Roseville, Rocklin and the Sacramento area.

- Free 30-minute consultation
- Independent educational evaluations
- ADHD, autism and dyslexia
- Website: https://learning-pathways.com/
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/folsom/learning-pathways-educational-psychology.md

### ABA therapy in Sacramento

These providers have centers in the Sacramento area. Most bill health insurance or Medi-Cal; ask each one which plans it takes and how long the wait is.

#### 13. Community Autism Services, Sacramento Autism Learning Center

Arden-Arcade, Sacramento · 2500 Marconi Avenue, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95821

Run by The Stepping Stones Group, this center serves children 18 months to 6 years with center-based and in-home ABA, intensive behavioral intervention, Early Start ABA for children under 3, and psychological and diagnostic assessments. It has an indoor play space, a fine motor room and group therapy rooms, and runs weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Its page shows many insurers, Medi-Cal among them; an autism diagnosis is usually needed for insurance, and getting started can take 4 to 6 weeks.

- Ages 18 months to 6
- Diagnostic assessments too
- Medi-Cal among plans shown
- Intake: cas.intake@ssg-healthcare.com
- Website: https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/california-autism-services/sacramento/
- Phone: 916-755-6977
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/arden-arcade/community-autism-services-sacramento-autism-learni.md

#### 14. CARD Sacramento (Center for Autism and Related Disorders)

Natomas, Sacramento · 3840 Rosin Court, Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95834

CARD’s Natomas center offers center-based and home-based ABA, early intervention, a learning readiness program, social skills groups and a teen and adult program. It’s open weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and some weekend hours. Its location page doesn’t list ages or insurance, so ask when you call or email its enrollment team at CARDEnrollment@centerforautism.com.

- Weekdays 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Social skills groups
- Teen and adult program
- Website: https://centerforautism.com/locations/california/sacramento-california/
- Phone: 916-374-0800
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/natomas/card-sacramento-center-for-autism-and-related-diso.md

#### 15. ACES ABA Sacramento

Sacramento (Fair Oaks Boulevard) · 3604-B Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95864

ACES’s Sacramento center runs an Early Learners program for children up to 5 and an after-school social skills program for kids 6 and up, plus ABA at home, at school and in the community, with parent training. It’s open weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ACES says it’s in network with more than 100 insurance plans and checks your benefits for you; private pay is also available.

- Saturdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- In network with 100+ plans
- ABA at school, too
- Website: https://www.acesaba.com/locations/sacramento
- Phone: 916-538-5200
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/arden-arcade/aces-aba-arden-arcade.md

#### 16. Therapeutic Pathways Kendall Centers (BlueSprig)

Folsom, Elk Grove and Granite Bay

Therapeutic Pathways’ Kendall Centers, part of BlueSprig, have ABA centers at 1825 Prairie City Rd in Folsom, 9355 E Stockton Blvd in Elk Grove and 4196 Douglas Blvd in Granite Bay, and BlueSprig’s The Behavior Center has another in Elk Grove. Therapy can be at a center, at home, at school or in the community, depending on your insurance and staffing. A care coordinator handles the insurance check, intake and getting started.

- Folsom: 916-693-6351
- Elk Grove: 916-683-1109
- Granite Bay: 916-489-1376
- Center, home or school
- Website: https://www.bluesprigautism.com/centers/california/sacramento/
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/granite-bay/therapeutic-pathways-kendall-centers-bluesprig-granite-bay.md

## Who qualifies for Alta Regional Center

Alta follows the same state rules as California’s other 20 regional centers. There are three ways in, depending on age ([DDS eligibility criteria](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CaliforniaRegionalCenter_EligibilityCriteria_20250304.pdf)):

- **Early Start, birth to 36 months.** A baby or toddler qualifies with a delay of at least 25% in one or more areas (thinking and learning, communication, social-emotional, self-care, or physical and motor development, including vision and hearing), with an established risk condition such as Down syndrome, or with a high risk from a combination of medical factors ([Alta](https://www.altaregional.org/post/applying-services-and-intake-process)).
- **Lanterman Act, any age.** The person has autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability, or a condition closely related to intellectual disability or needing similar treatment. It must begin before age 18, be expected to last, and be a **substantial disability**: significant limits in at least three of seven areas (self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency).
- **Provisional eligibility, ages 3 and 4.** A young child can qualify without a diagnosis if the disability isn’t only physical and causes significant limits in at least two major life activities. If a 3- or 4-year-old isn’t found to have a developmental disability, the regional center must check provisional eligibility in the same 120 days ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Intake-and-Assessment-Requirements.pdf)).

There’s no charge for the eligibility assessment, and most services are free regardless of age or income ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/eligibility/)). Family income and immigration status don’t affect eligibility ([DDS guide](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Guide_to_Californias_Regional_Center_Services_System.pdf)). DDS also ended its family fee programs, the Annual Family Program Fee and the Family Cost Participation Program, on July 1, 2024 ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter/family-fee-programs-ended/)).

A learning disability or mental health condition on its own doesn’t qualify, and neither does a disability that is only physical. If Alta finds your child ineligible, you can still ask your school district in writing for a special education assessment.

## How to apply to Alta, step by step

1. **Create a My Alta account.** Alta takes applications for every age through its online portal. It suggests using a computer rather than a phone; for hands-on help, call (916) 978-6400 and press 0 ([Alta, age 3 and up](https://www.altaregional.org/post/applying-services-and-intake-process-0)).
2. **Apply, and upload what you have:** earlier evaluations, IEPs, medical records. For a child under 3, a doctor or other professional can also refer through the portal and email records to IntakeReferrals@altaregional.org. For age 3 and up, Alta asks the family to apply itself. DDS lists Alta’s Early Start intake line as (916) 978-6249.
3. **Intake.** By law, the regional center must do intake, including deciding whether to assess, within 15 working days of your request (Welfare and Institutions Code 4642). An intake coordinator interviews you, and an intake counselor may help with diagnosis and arrange specialists.
4. **Assessment and decision.** The assessment must be finished, and eligibility decided, within 120 days of intake, or within 60 days if a delay would put your child’s health, safety or development at risk (W&I Code 4643; [DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Intake-and-Assessment-Requirements.pdf)). At Alta, a team of a physician, a psychologist and a social worker decides.
5. **Your first plan.** If your child is eligible, you’re assigned a service coordinator, and the first Individual Program Plan (IPP) must be finished within 60 days. After that, you can ask for an IPP meeting at any time, and it must happen within 30 days ([DDS guide](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Guide_to_Californias_Regional_Center_Services_System.pdf)).

**Under 3, the clock is shorter.** Early Start has 45 days from referral to assign a service coordinator, get your consent, finish evaluations and, if your child qualifies, write an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/what-is-early-start/)). Services in the plan must start within 45 days of your consent, and you don’t have to use your insurance for the evaluation. Ninety days before your child turns 3, you and the service coordinator plan the move to school district services ([DDS Early Start FAQ](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/EarlyStart_FAQ_202512.pdf)).

> Keep a log of every call and email: the date, who you spoke with, what they said. If a deadline passes, it’s your record when you call the service coordinator’s manager, Alta’s Directors of Client Services, or the DDS Office of the Ombudsperson.

## What Alta can pay for: ABA, respite, camps and more

Alta assesses, plans and coordinates services, and buys the ones in your child’s plan, but it pays last. The Lanterman Act requires regional centers to use other resources first, such as health insurance, Medi-Cal and the school district ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/eligibility/support-services)). Alta’s purchase of service policies, approved by DDS, cover areas such as respite, day care and after-school care, early treatment for autism, social recreation and camp, durable medical equipment, transportation and family support ([Alta](https://www.altaregional.org/transparency/policies/purchaseofservice)).

- **ABA therapy.** State law requires private health insurers regulated by California to cover behavioral health treatment for autism, and Medi-Cal covers it for members under 21, through your Medi-Cal health plan or a fee-for-service provider. You can go straight to your insurer, whether or not Alta serves your child; a doctor or psychologist decides whether it’s medically necessary ([Alta](https://www.altaregional.org/behavioral-health-treatment)). When insurance covers a service in your child’s plan, state law lets a regional center help pay the copay, coinsurance or deductible for families whose income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, with some exceptions ([W&I Code 4659.1](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&sectionNum=4659.1)).
- **Respite.** Short, regular or occasional care that gives a family a break, at home or in a licensed setting. Alta decides the hours from your child’s needs, such as self-care, medical needs and behavior, and what other help you have ([Alta respite policy](https://www.altaregional.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/respite_services_policy.pdf)). It isn’t meant as day care.
- **Social recreation, camp and non-medical therapies.** Regional centers were barred from buying these, with few exceptions, from July 2009 to June 2021; the authority came back on July 1, 2021 ([Alta](https://www.altaregional.org/social-recreation-services)). Alta’s policy names swimming, gymnastics, sports clubs, dance, martial arts, creative arts, music, art and equestrian therapy, and day or overnight camp in California. Generic resources come first, and the activity must relate to the developmental disability ([Alta](https://www.altaregional.org/post/social-recreation-activities-camp-and-non-medical-therapies-restored)).
- **Early Start services** for babies and toddlers: speech, occupational and physical therapy, special instruction, family training and home visits, nutrition, assistive technology, vision and hearing services. Evaluation, assessment and service coordination are free; insurance is billed for medically necessary therapies, and the regional center or school district covers what insurance doesn’t ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/what-is-early-start/)).

> Ask your service coordinator about the HCBS Waiver and the Self-Determination Program. The program gives you a budget and more say in who provides services.

For what ABA therapy costs and who pays, see [How Much Does ABA Therapy Cost?](https://summerground.com/guides/aba-therapy-cost).

## Which Alta office serves you, and your family resource center

Alta serves 10 counties. Your county decides your office, and DDS lists a family resource center for babies and toddlers in each one. To check which regional center serves an address, use the [DDS Regional Center Lookup](https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/lookup-rcs-by-county/).

*Alta’s offices by county (Alta offices page) and each county’s Early Start family resource center (DDS listing), October 2026*

| County | Towns, for example | Alta office | Family resource center |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sacramento | Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova | Sacramento, 916-978-6400 | WarmLine, 916-455-9500 |
| Placer | Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn, Granite Bay | Roseville, 916-437-6900 (northern Placer: Grass Valley; Truckee area: Truckee) | WarmLine, 916-455-9500 |
| El Dorado | El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Placerville | Placerville, 530-626-1353 (east county: South Lake Tahoe) | WarmLine, 916-455-9500 |
| Yolo | Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland | Woodland, 530-666-3391 | WarmLine, 916-455-9500 |
| Sutter | Yuba City, Live Oak | Yuba City, 530-674-3070 | Family SOUP, 530-751-1925 |
| Yuba | Marysville, Wheatland | Yuba City, 530-674-3070 | Yuba County Office of Education FRC, 530-749-4049 |
| Colusa | Colusa, Williams | Yuba City, 530-674-3070 | Colusa County Family Resource Center, 530-458-7678 |
| Nevada | Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee | Grass Valley, 530-272-4231, or Truckee, 530-587-3018 | WarmLine, 916-455-9500 |
| Sierra | Downieville, Loyalton | Grass Valley or Truckee | High Sierra FRC, 530-993-1110 |
| Alpine | Markleeville | South Lake Tahoe, 530-314-5970 | WarmLine, 916-455-9500 |

Older pages around the web, and some of Alta’s own older brochures, list addresses that have changed: the main office on Harvard Street, Roseville on Santa Clara Drive, Woodland on West Main Street, Placerville on Placerville Drive. Use the addresses on [Alta’s offices page](https://www.altaregional.org/offices). The process and timelines for applying are the same at every regional center in California.

## If Alta says no: appeals and complaints

Alta must send a Notice of Action before it denies eligibility, denies a new service, or changes or ends a current one. You appeal to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), not to Alta: online, with form DS 1821, by email, mail or fax ([DDS appeals](https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/appeals-complaints-comments/fair-hearings-complaint-process/)). The timeline ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Appeals-Timeline.pdf)):

1. **Within 30 days of the notice**, and before the change takes effect, file if you want your child’s current services to continue during the appeal (aid paid pending).
2. **Within 60 days** is the deadline to appeal at all.
3. **Within 10 days** of your request, Alta holds an informal meeting with you, if you want one.
4. **Within 30 days**, mediation, if you want it.
5. **Within 50 days**, a hearing before a judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings, with a final decision within 80 days of your request. Alta must carry out a final decision within 30 days.

**Under 3, Early Start has its own process.** You can ask for mediation (form DS 1808), file a state complaint, or request a due process hearing (form DS 1802), which must be finished within 30 days of when the Office of Administrative Hearings gets your request ([DDS Early Start FAQ](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/EarlyStart_FAQ_202512.pdf)).

If you believe a right was wrongly denied, rather than a service, that’s a Section 4731 complaint ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/appeals-complaints-comments/)). For help, Alta’s rights page lists the DDS Office of the Ombudsperson, (877) 658-9731 or Ombudsperson@dds.ca.gov, and Disability Rights California, 1831 K Street, Sacramento, (916) 504-5800 ([Alta](https://www.altaregional.org/rights-advocacy-and-appeals)).

## Questions parents ask

### Who is eligible for Alta Regional Center services?

People who live in Alta’s 10 counties and have autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability or a closely related condition that began before 18 and substantially limits daily life. Babies and toddlers under 3 can qualify through Early Start with a delay of at least 25% in one area, or an established risk condition. Children 3 and 4 can qualify provisionally without a diagnosis. The assessment is free, and income and immigration status don’t matter.

### How do I apply to Alta California Regional Center?

Online, through Alta’s My Alta portal: create an account, then fill out the application and upload any evaluations, IEPs or medical records. That’s the route for every age. If you get stuck, call (916) 978-6400 and press 0 for help. For a baby or toddler, a doctor or other professional can also refer your child through the portal; for age 3 and up, Alta asks the family to apply.

### Where is the Alta Regional Center main office in Sacramento?

At 4151 E Commerce Way, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95834, in Natomas. The main number is (916) 978-6400, and hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some older directories still show the previous address on Harvard Street. Alta has seven other offices, in Roseville, Placerville, Woodland, Yuba City, Grass Valley, Truckee and South Lake Tahoe.

### Does Alta Regional have offices in Roseville and Yuba City?

Yes. The Roseville office, at 516 Gibson Drive, Suite 150, (916) 437-6900, serves Placer County. The Yuba City office, at 950 Tharp Road, Suite 202, (530) 674-3070, serves Sutter, Yuba and Colusa counties. Applications go through the online portal either way; the offices are where you meet your service coordinator.

### How long does Alta Regional Center intake take?

By law, intake must happen within 15 working days of your request, and the assessment and eligibility decision within 120 days of intake, or 60 days if a delay would risk your child’s health, safety or development. For children under 3, Early Start has 45 days from referral to evaluate and write a family service plan. Once a child is found eligible, the first IPP must be done within 60 days.

### Does Alta Regional pay for ABA therapy?

It can, but it pays last. California requires state-regulated health insurers to cover ABA for autism, and Medi-Cal covers it for members under 21, so Alta expects families to use those first. If your insurance covers ABA, Alta may help with copays, coinsurance or deductibles for families at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Talk with your service coordinator about any gap insurance won’t cover.

### Where can I get an autism assessment in Sacramento?

Alta does its own free assessment for eligibility. For a medical diagnosis, which insurance usually needs before paying for ABA, ask your child’s doctor for a referral; the UC Davis MIND Institute takes referrals from primary care doctors. Private clinics such as City of Trees in Sacramento (private pay, about 4 to 8 weeks) and Learning Pathways in Folsom also do autism evaluations. Your school district assesses for special education separately.

## How we made this list

We read Alta California Regional Center’s own pages in October 2026, its offices, intake, policies and rights pages, and checked the rules against the Department of Developmental Services’ pages, forms and letters. Clinics and ABA providers are listed only where their own pages describe this work with Sacramento-area children; we left out a center still marked “coming soon” and found no Sacramento children’s autism evaluation page from Kaiser or Sutter, so ask your pediatrician about those.

- [ACRC Offices (Alta California Regional Center)](https://www.altaregional.org/offices)
- [Applying for Services and Intake Process, Early Start (Alta)](https://www.altaregional.org/post/applying-services-and-intake-process)
- [Applying for Services and Intake Process, Persons 3 and Over (Alta)](https://www.altaregional.org/post/applying-services-and-intake-process-0)
- [Purchase of Service Policies (Alta)](https://www.altaregional.org/transparency/policies/purchaseofservice)
- [Social Recreation Services (Alta)](https://www.altaregional.org/social-recreation-services)
- [Behavioral Health Treatment (Alta)](https://www.altaregional.org/behavioral-health-treatment)
- [Rights, Advocacy and Appeals (Alta)](https://www.altaregional.org/rights-advocacy-and-appeals)
- [Regional Center Eligibility & Services (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/eligibility/)
- [Eligibility Criteria for California Regional Center Services (DDS, March 2025)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CaliforniaRegionalCenter_EligibilityCriteria_20250304.pdf)
- [Intake and Assessment Requirements, W&I Code 4642 and 4643 (DDS, 2022)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Intake-and-Assessment-Requirements.pdf)
- [What is Early Start? (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/what-is-early-start/)
- [Early Start Frequently Asked Questions (DDS, December 2025)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/EarlyStart_FAQ_202512.pdf)
- [Regional Center Early Start Intake and Family Resource Centers (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/family-resource-center/regional-center-early-start-intake-and-family-resource-centers/)
- [Appeals Process Timelines, effective March 1, 2023 (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Appeals-Timeline.pdf)
- [Appeals Process (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/appeals-complaints-comments/fair-hearings-complaint-process/)
- [Family Fee Programs Ended (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter/family-fee-programs-ended/)
- [A Guide to California’s Regional Center Services System (DDS, February 2025)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Guide_to_Californias_Regional_Center_Services_System.pdf)
- [Welfare and Institutions Code 4659.1 (copays, coinsurance and deductibles)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&sectionNum=4659.1)

More guides: https://summerground.com/guides/regional-centers-los-angeles.md, https://summerground.com/guides/aba-therapy-cost.md, https://summerground.com/guides/pediatric-dentists-sacramento.md. All of them: https://summerground.com/guides.md.