The Department of Developmental Services is responsible under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act for ensuring that persons with developmental disabilities receive the services and supports they need to lead more independent and productive lives and to make choices and decisions about their lives. The Department, through its oversight of 21 private, nonprofit regional centers, ensures coordination of services to persons with developmental disabilities; ensures that such services are planned, provided, and meet the needs and choices of these individuals at each stage of their lives; and, to the extent possible, accomplishes these goals in the individual's home community.

The Department sets broad policy and provides leadership for developmental services statewide; establishes priorities, standards, and procedures within which the developmental services program operates; monitors, reviews, and evaluates service delivery; and ensures remediation of problems that arise. Services are delivered directly through developmental centers and a state-operated community facility, and under contract with a statewide network of 21 private, nonprofit, locally-based community agencies known as regional centers.

The Department's goals are to:

• Maintain or develop systems that ensure that services and supports are provided to individuals and their families.
• Facilitate the dissemination of information to improve services and supports and the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
• Ensure the Department, state developmental centers, regional centers, and service providers comply with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations and contracts, including accounting for their funding in an appropriate manner.

Since Department programs drive the need for infrastructure investment, the department has a related capital outlay program to support this need. For the specifics on the Department of Developmental Services' Capital Outlay Program see "Infrastructure Overview."