FAQs

What is the WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention?
The Center for Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI), located in Sacramento, CA, was established in 1998 as a program of WestEd, a nonprofit research, development, and service agency headquartered in San Francisco. CPEI strengthens service and support systems for infants and toddlers, young children, and youth with disabilities and other special needs and their families.

What is the mission of WestEd CPEI?
The mission of CPEI is to educate, inform, and inspire through innovative and effective products and services. CPEI works to establish and promote partnerships that share a common vision by cultivating and nurturing relationships, providing expertise, and strengthening communities.

Responding to national, state, and local priorities and needs, CPEI collaborates with education, health, and human service agencies and other organizations to enhance their capacity to provide comprehensive and well-coordinated specialized services and support to infants and toddlers, young children, and students with disabilities and other special needs.

What are the focus areas of work for WestEd CPEI?
WestEd CPEI staff have demonstrated leadership and technical expertise in multiple areas of policy, systems change, and service delivery for children with disabilities and other special needs from birth through post-secondary graduation as defined by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This includes a focus on academic achievement, social development, service provision, family empowerment, inclusion, personnel development, and community participation.

What types of services does WestEd CPEI provide?
WestEd CPEI coordinates statewide trainings and institute series' for a variety of personnel, including teachers, direct service providers, administrators, families, and paraprofessionals. These activities are designed and implemented at both the preservice and inservice levels and reflect content standards and research-based curricula. CPEI staff also have expertise in supporting the various systems that serve children and youth with disabilities, program and resource development, and systemic change, including convening and facilitating state-level think tanks and commissions; developing policy recommendations; and creating and producing award-winning publications.

What types of products and resources does WestEd CPEI offer?
WestEd CPEI produces award-winning and multilingual public awareness and outreach materials for the early intervention community, families, agencies, and the general public, including brochures, annual reports, and books. CPEI also produces traditional and multimedia resources for early care and education professionals, teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals who address the issues of inclusion, special education, students at-risk, and early childhood mental health. Visit our Publications Center for more information about our products.

What is the expertise of WestEd CPEI staff?
WestEd CPEI staff have expertise and experience in implementing the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Parts B & C) and the California Early Intervention Services Act known as California Early Start; technical assistance; early childhood development (typical and atypical); early care and education; special education at the classroom and systems levels; communications and resource development; Head Start; inclusion; addressing the needs of students at risk of academic failure; community building; policy development; systemic change; personnel development, specifically California's comprehensive system of personnel development; trainer of trainer institutes; parent involvement and parent-professional collaboration; early mental health and social emotional well-being; and information fulfillment and dissemination.

How are projects funded?
CPEI collaborates with many state agencies, including the California Departments of Education, Developmental Services, Health Services, Social Services, and Mental Health, and the First 5 California Children and Families Commission. CPEI's portfolio also includes strong relationships with county-level and community-based agencies and organizations, and colleges, universities, and the Community College Chancellor's Office. A complete list of funders and partners is available.

Don't see your question answered above? Please contact us at cpei@wested.org.