Child Development

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides tools and information about child development and milestones.
  
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/jump/child.htm
  
  
• ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
  
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
  
• For Our Babies is a national movement promoting healthy development in U.S. children from conception to age 3. We advocate for the types of environments, experiences, and relationships that infants and toddlers need in order to thrive.
  
  http://www.forourbabies.org
  
  

Autism and Developmental Disabilities Resources and Information

• Autism Speaks is the largest autism advocacy organization in the U.S., dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/about_us.php

• California Department of Developmental Services is the agency through which the State of California provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
  
  http://www.dds.ca.gov/

 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—“Learn the Signs. Act Early” is a website to help parents recognize the early signs of autism.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html

• Family Resource Centers Network-- Staffed by families of children with special needs, family resource centers offer parent-to-parent support and help parents, families, and children locate and use needed services.

http://www.frcnca.org/about.html

• Families for Early AutismTreatment (FEAT) is a Northern California based organization providing education, advocacy and support for the Northern California Autism Community.
  
  http://www.feat.org/
  
  
  
• UC Davis MIND Institute Resource Center is helpful to parents, professionals, and the community.
  
  http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/resources/index.html
  
• Parents Helping Parents (PHP) strives to improve the quality of life for any child with special need of any age, through educating, supporting and training their primary caregivers.
  
  http://www.php.com/
  
  
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities serves the nation as a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Here, you’ll also find easy-to-read information on IDEA, the law authorizing early intervention services and special education.
  
  http://nichcy.org/
  
  
• University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities collaborates with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to improve quality of life and community inclusion. The Center accomplishes this mission through advocacy, community partnerships, interdisciplinary training, and the translation of research into practical applications.
  
  http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ddcenter/

Environmental Health Resources and Information

• Healthy Child Healthy World's mission is to empower parents to take action and protect children from harmful chemicals 
  
  http://healthychild.org/
  
  
• Environmental Health Perspectives is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on environmental health topics. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
  
  http://www.ehponline.org/
  
  
• Institute for Children’s Environmental Health is a non-profit educational organization working to reduce harmful environmental exposures to children.
  
  http://www.cehn.org/institute_childrens_environmental_health/
  
  
• Environmental Working Group is a non-profit environmental health advocacy organization. They specialize in resources such as the Skin Deep personal care products database and the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce.  
  
  http://www.ewg.org/
  
  The Skin Deep database can be found here:
  
  http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
  
  The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides database can be found here:
  
  http://www.foodnews.org/
  
  
  
• Critical Windows of Development is a timeline of how the human body develops in the womb, with animal research showing when low-dose exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals during development results in altered health outcomes.”

  http://www.endocrinedisruption.org
  

• The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) is an international partnership committed to strengthening the scientific and public dialogue on environmental factors linked to chronic disease and disability.
  
  http://www.healthandenvironment.org/index.php