01
Under 3: Early Start at North Los Angeles County Regional Center
Call the Santa Clarita Valley office at (661) 775-8450 to ask for a free evaluation. You don’t need a doctor’s note.
Visit NLACRC’s websiteFor parents in Santa Clarita
Speech therapy for kids in Santa Clarita.
Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
For a child under 3, call North Los Angeles County Regional Center’s Santa Clarita Valley office at (661) 775-8450. From age 3, call the valley’s shared special education office at 661-259-0033 about a free school evaluation.
Santa ClaritaOfficial sources
Is my child on track?
Signs to look for, by age.
If something on this list worries you, you don’t need to wait and see. You can ask for a free evaluation right away.
- By 18 months
- Tries to say at least 3 words besides “mama” or “dada.”
- By 2 years
- Puts two words together, like “more milk.”
- By 3 years
- Has a short back-and-forth conversation with you.
- At any age
- Stops saying words they used to say.
Free and paid help in Santa Clarita
Where to get help in Santa Clarita.
An evaluation is a check of how your child talks and understands words. It usually happens through play, often with a speech therapist.
02
Age 3 and up: Santa Clarita Valley school districts
Five school districts share one special education office, the Santa Clarita Valley SELPA. Your home address decides which district evaluates your child. Call the SELPA at 661-259-0033 ext. 742. You can also call the student support office of Newhall, Saugus Union, Sulphur Springs Union or Castaic Union. School evaluations are free.
See the district list03
Any age: SLEA Therapies in Santa Clarita
SLEA’s Santa Clarita office at 27200 Tourney Road offers speech and language therapy for children. Call (818) 788-1003 or use its request form. SLEA says it is in network for most of its patients. Ask which plans it accepts and whether you need a doctor’s referral.
Visit SLEA’s websiteThese services are run independently of Speech Blubs.
Speech Blubs at home
While you wait, practice at home.
Getting an appointment can take time. Speech Blubs gives you short activities to do together: your child watches other kids say words and make sounds, then tries too.
Pick a topic your child loves, like animals or snacks.
Watch together and pause. Give your child time to look, point or say a word.
Use the word later, at snack time or in a book.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
Father of a 23-month-oldWhen I tell her it's time to play her game, she runs and gets up on the couch to play.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
How old is your child?
- iPhone and Android
- English, Spanish and 11 more languages
If your child sees a therapist, ask which activities fit.
Everyday ideas
Talk and play around Santa Clarita.
A walk, a book or a snack gives you something to talk about. Follow what your child is looking at.
01 / Old Orchard Park
City option
Talk about what your child notices.
A city park on Lyons Avenue with a shaded play area, rope ladder, slide and faux rock wall.
Climb the ladder together and say “up, up, up” on each step. At the top, pause before the slide and wait for your child to say “go.”
upslidego
Plan your visit 
02 / Valencia Branch, Santa Clarita Public Library
City option
Start with a favorite picture.
The Valencia branch is at 23743 Valencia Boulevard. It has hosted Little Explorers, an early-learning program for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
Pick a picture book with animals. Make the animal sound together, then wait for your child to try it before you turn the page.
moopageagain
Plan your visit 
03 / The app
Offer two choices and pause.
Show two familiar toys or foods and name them. Give your child time to respond with a look, a gesture, a sound or a word.
this onemoreyour turn
The app Opening hours change, so check the website before you go.
Questions parents ask in Santa Clarita.
Is speech therapy free in Santa Clarita?
The evaluation is free through North Los Angeles County Regional Center (under 3) and your school district (from age 3). School speech services are free if your child qualifies. Early Start is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. Its therapy may be billed to Medi-Cal or your insurance first.
How much does speech therapy cost? Does Medi-Cal or insurance pay?
Clinic fees vary, so ask about the price when you call. SLEA says it is in network for most patients. Medi-Cal covers medically necessary speech therapy for children. With private insurance, call the number on your card.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
Not for Early Start or your school district. You can contact them yourself. A clinic, Medi-Cal or your insurance plan may need a referral from your child’s doctor.
How long is the wait, and what can I do while I wait?
After a referral, Early Start assigns a coordinator and completes the evaluation within 45 days. Your district sends an evaluation plan within 15 days of a written request. While you wait, talk, read and play together every day, and try short Speech Blubs activities at home.
My 2-year-old only says a few words. Should I worry about a speech delay?
Many 2-year-olds put two words together, like “more milk.” If your child doesn’t yet, it’s a good time to call the Santa Clarita Valley office of the regional center. The evaluation is free, and you don’t need to wait and see.
Does Speech Blubs replace a speech therapist?
No. Speech Blubs gives you short activities to practice together at home. A speech therapist evaluates your child and plans the therapy. If your child sees a therapist, ask which activities fit.
Which languages is the Speech Blubs app in?
Speech Blubs is available in English (US and UK) and Spanish, plus 11 more languages. These include German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Swedish, Polish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Romanian. You can switch the language in the app menu.
Life with little ones in Santa Clarita
Speech therapy for kids in Santa Clarita: help nearby and practice at home
Two Early Start programs, and which one is for speech
Santa Clarita has two Early Start programs. The Santa Clarita Valley SELPA runs one at 20417 Cedarcreek Street in Canyon Country. It serves babies and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who have vision or orthopedic needs.
For a speech delay, start with North Los Angeles County Regional Center. Its Santa Clarita Valley office is at 25360 Magic Mountain Parkway, Suite 150. After a referral, a service coordinator is assigned and the evaluation is finished within 45 days. Your regional center depends on your ZIP code, so ask the Santa Clarita office about yours.
If your child does not qualify for Early Start, the SELPA says your child is considered for California’s Prevention Program. It tracks the development of children up to 35 months.
From age 3, the valley’s districts work together
Newhall, Saugus Union, Sulphur Springs Union and Castaic Union school districts share a special education plan. William S. Hart Union High School District is part of it too. The shared office is at 26320 Spirit Court.
Ask for an evaluation in writing at the district that covers your home. The district sends an assessment plan within 15 days.
Practice between appointments
SLEA Therapies has a Santa Clarita office on Tourney Road, with morning appointments. Meanwhile, Old Orchard Park and the Valencia library branch give you two easy places to talk.
Take one picture book to the park. Name what your child points at, then pause and wait.
The Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy branch at 18601 Soledad Canyon Road has also hosted Little Explorers. Families on the east side of the valley can use it instead of driving to Valencia.
We last checked these details in November 2026.
Sources
· We checked these official pages in November 2026.
- NLACRC contact and office locations · Sources reviewed:
- NLACRC Early Start · Sources reviewed:
- NLACRC Early Start eligibility · Sources reviewed:
- NLACRC catchment area · Sources reviewed:
- Santa Clarita Valley SELPA districts · Sources reviewed:
- Santa Clarita Valley SELPA Early Start · Sources reviewed:
- Hart district special education resources · Sources reviewed:
- SLEA Therapies Santa Clarita · Sources reviewed:
- SLEA Therapies · Sources reviewed:
- Speech Blubs: App languages · Sources reviewed:
- Speech Blubs: App content languages · Sources reviewed:
- Old Orchard Park · Sources reviewed:
- Valencia Branch, Santa Clarita Public Library · Sources reviewed:
- CDC: developmental milestones · Sources reviewed: