Suspecting your child has a developmental delay or a difference can be scary and confusing. Many families who visit us don’t know how to help their children or understand what conditions their child may have.

The experts at CPMC’s Kalmanovitz Child Development Center provide comprehensive developmental assessment and treatment programs for infants, preschoolers, school-age children and adolescents who manifest developmental delays or differences. We also help children with other special needs. A multi-disciplinary team assists families and professionals with recommendations about the child/adolescent’s developmental, behavioral and learning needs by providing diagnostic information, treatment options, consultation, continuity of service and support for families.

In existence for more than 50 years, we are the largest multi-disciplinary clinic of this kind in Northern California, providing about 18,000 visits per year. Our highly trained and caring child development experts are committed to meeting the needs of you and your child. The Center has bilingual staff in Spanish for most services, and interpreter services are available in a variety of languages for all services.

We offer a wide range of services, including:

• Physical Therapy Evaluation and Treatment
• Occupational Therapy Evaluation and Treatment
• Speech Therapy Evaluation and Treatment
• Educational Assessment and Treatment
• Child/Adolescents Psychoeducational Assessments and Therapy
• Parent Consultations for Developmental, Behavioral and Educational concerns
• Newborn Intensive Care Unit (Whitney) Follow-up Clinic
• Developmental Feeding Clinic
• Hanen Speech-Language Consultation Programs

Additional Specialty Child Development Programs

• Adolescent Services — For adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 21, we provide educational testing and therapy, psychological testing and therapy, assessments to diagnose learning disabilities, and consultations regarding college choices and admission testing. Consultations and community referrals are also provided. Call (415) 600-6200 for more information.

• Integrated Social Skills Playgroups — Under staff supervision, integrated playgroups are formed to further enhance a child's social, language, and motor skills utilizing speech and language, occupational therapy and behavioral therapy. The playgroups are for children ages 3 to 10. Please note that the costs of integrated playgroups are not covered by insurance plans. Call (415) 600-6200 for more information.

• Early Intervention Program/GGRC — This early intervention program for children at risk for developmental disorders is supported by Golden Gate Regional Center. It assists children in many areas of development and teaches parents how to advance skill development. Children ages 5 months to 3 years spend two hours once a week in a small group, preschool-like setting. The program is staffed by an infant educator, a speech and language pathologist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist.

Parents participate in the support group and have access to information, resources and referrals. Each family is also eligible for three home visits a month. Families also have the option of participating in a home visit only program, where the child is seen for four to five visits a month. At age 3, children are transitioned to the school district. Call (415) 600-6200 for more information.

• Psychological Assessment and Treatment — We provide evaluations of cognitive, academic and emotional development; short-term individual and family psychotherapy and consultations on behavior management and child rearing issues. Call (415) 600-6200 for more information.

• School Age Learning Program — For children ages 6 to 12, we offer assessments of educational achievement, cognitive development, possible learning issues, learning aptitude, handwriting skills and psychosocial adjustment. Educational therapy is available in one-to-one or group setting for the learning disabled student. Consultations to schools can be arranged. Note that program costs are not covered by insurance plans. Call (415) 600-6200 for more information.

Novack Child Life Services

Pediatric Surgery Tour

• The Pediatric Surgery Tour helps parents and their children become more familiar with the hospital environment before the day of surgery. To schedule your tour with a Child Life Specialist, please call (415) 600-0808. The tour is appropriate for school- age children and may take up to 20 minutes in length.  Please schedule the tour at least a week in advance.

What to Expect

Tours are appropriate for patients over age 4, along with their families. The 20 minute interactive tour will enable you and your child to:

• Get familiar with the hospital experience through fun activities.
• Take a tour of the recovery room and a virtual tour of the operating room.
• Ask any questions you have.

Video Tour

For families unable to attend a surgery tour in person, we have created a video with all the essential information.

• Pediatric Surgery at Sutter Health CPMC (Video)

NICU Siblings Program

Child Life Specialists offer emotional support and developmentally appropriate information to children about their new baby brother or sister who is staying in the NICU, and about the NICU environment. Parents can schedule a session with the NICU Child Life Specialist, who will utilize medical play, real hospital equipment, and pictures to prepare children for the experience of visiting their newborn brother or sister in the NICU.

To speak with a Child Life Specialist in the NICU or Antepartum Department, please call (415) 600-0714.

Learn more about Novack Child Life Services.