Welcome to First 5 Health and Developmental Services (HDS)! This website is devoted to providing helpful information about HDS, a program that serves children ages 5 years and under in San Diego County. HDS provides a variety of FREE services. To learn more, please click on the links below.

What is HDS? What services does HDS provide? Who is eligible for HDS services? I am a parent/caregiver of a child, how do I access HDS services? I am a provider/physician, how do I refer into HDS?

Are you an HDS subcontractor?

What is Health and Developmental Services?

Health and Developmental Services (HDS) is a FREE program offered to children and their caregivers throughout San Diego County. These services are available to ALL children ages birth to 5 years 11 months who have not entered kindergarten. Funding for these services is provided through the First 5 Commission of San Diego County.

The goal of Health and Developmental Services is to help parents and childcare providers support the health, growth, and development of young children. We have many wonderful programs that will help your child enter kindergarten “Ready to Learn.”


What services does HDS provide?

HDS provides a variety of FREE services to families! See below for more information!

Family Support and Empowerment
• Parent support groups, information workshops, and peer-to-peer connections for families of children with special needs

Newborn Home Visits • Home visit by a nurse for all first-time parents within the first few months of life • The home visit will include: o general medical assessment of your child o education on basic newborn care o information on breastfeeding and infant health o list of community resources

Home Visits
• Parent education, links to resources, and support to empower families to provide a safe and nurturing home environment

Vision Services • Vision screenings done at your child’s day care center or school or at a location in the community • Full vision exam and glasses may be available

Hearing Services • Hearing screenings done at your child’s day care center or school or at a location in the community • Referral to your child’s physician if needed

Developmental Services • Developmental check-ups for your child with referrals to additional services as needed • Treatment classes taught by experts in the areas of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavior/social-emotional development • One-on-on parent coaching sessions with behavior specialists

Speech Services
• Evaluation by a Speech and Language Pathologist to examine your child’s ability to produce and understand language
• Treatment classes taught by a Speech and Language Pathologist

Behavior Services • Counseling or other behavioral therapy to meet the social and emotional needs of young children and their families • Services can be provided at your home if needed

Health and Behavioral Consulting in childcare
• Health and behavior consultation for childcare providers
• Workshops and trainings for childcare providers and parents about health and behavior issues that may arise at childcare centers

Who is eligible for HDS services?

Services are available to children birth to 5 years 11 months, regardless of insurance or income, who reside in San Diego County.

All first-time parents are eligible for newborn home visits.

Families can receive HDS services based on the location or zip code of your home, childcare, or child’s physician office.

Childcare providers can request services based on the location or zip code of your childcare site.

Click here to find your zip code to learn the region where you can receive services.


If I am a parent/caregiver of a child, how do I access HDS?

There are a few ways to access HDS services:

• You can be referred by your child’s physician.
• You can be referred by your child’s preschool or childcare provider.
• You can self refer by calling the Regional Coordinator. They will connect you to the service you are looking for!

Regional Phone Numbers:

South: 619-420-3620
Central: 619-515-2406
East: 619-515-2463
North Central: 858-576-1700 x7644
North Coastal: 858-576-1700 x6577
North Inland: 877-504-BABY

If you don’t know which region to call, Click Here

If I am a provider/physician, how do I refer into HDS?

As a provider, there are two main methods of referring into HDS:

• Call the Regional Coordinator.

South: 619-420-3620
Central: 619-515-2406
East: 619-515-2463
North Central: 858-576-1700 x7644
North Coastal: 858-576-1700 x6577
North Inland: 877-504-BABY

If you don’t know which region to call, Click Here

• Fax a referral directly to Regional Coordinator. To print a referral form, click here for English and here for Spanish.