Who do I call first for disability services in Kern County, California?

Start with early intervention (children under 3), your school district's special education office (ages 3–21), and California vocational rehabilitation for employment. This guide points to the right front door for Kern County.

Is help available in Spanish in Kern County?

Yes. This Kern County guide includes Spanish-language support, and most California agencies provide interpretation on request.

What should I do in a disability-related crisis in Kern County?

For an immediate emergency call 911. For mental health crisis support call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7. This page also lists local crisis resources where available.

Disability Services in Kern County, California

A free, plain-language guide to disability services in Kern County, California. Find who to call first for early intervention, special education, Medicaid waivers, transition planning, employment supports, and crisis help — with Spanish-language support. Always call to confirm details, which can change.

Services covered in Kern County

Early intervention (under 3) and special education / IEPs (ages 3–21)
Medicaid waivers and home- and community-based services
Vocational rehabilitation and supported employment
Transition planning, guardianship, and benefits
Crisis support — 911 for emergencies, 988 for mental health crisis

Key contacts in Kern County

Kern Regional Center (KRC) — Your regional center, the local front door for developmental-disability services in Kern County. Contact: 661-327-8531 · Bakersfield, CA · https://www.kernrc.org/.
Kern County Behavioral Health, 24/7 Access & Crisis Line — Free, confidential 24/7 county line that is the entry point to mental-health and substance-use services in Kern County: crisis support, screening, mobile crisi… Contact: 800-991-5272 · Mobile Crisis 661-868-8200 · 24/7.
California 211 — Free, confidential information and referral to health and human services across California. Contact: Call or text 211 · 211ca.org.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free, confidential crisis support 24/7 for mental health and substance use crises. Contact: 988.
California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) — Helps people with disabilities prepare for, get, and keep a job: counseling, training, assistive technology, job placement, and Student Services (Pre-ETS) star… Contact: 800-952-5544 · TTY 916-558-5673 · dor.ca.gov.
California Early Start — Statewide entry point that connects families of babies and toddlers (birth–3) with delays or disabilities to free Early Intervention evaluation and services th… Contact: 800-515-2229 (800-515-BABY) · earlystart@dds.ca.gov.
Disability Rights California (DRC) — California's federally designated protection and advocacy agency. Contact: 800-776-5746 · TTY 800-719-5798.
CalABLE Savings Program — Tax-advantaged ABLE savings and investment accounts that let people with disabilities save money without losing SSI, Medi-Cal, or other benefits. Contact: 833-225-2253 · calable.ca.gov.
State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) — State advocacy council with regional offices that help individuals and families understand their rights, navigate the regional-center system, and connect to pe… Contact: 916-322-8481 · scdd.ca.gov.

These listings are a navigation aid, not endorsements — always call first to confirm current details. The full interactive Kern County directory on this page lists 9 local and statewide resources with filters by category, age, and payer, plus registry-listed providers nearby.

See more California disability resources or browse other counties from the California portal.