Study to Explore Early Development (SEED)

You can help us find the causes of developmental disabilities in children

The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is a ground-breaking study that may help identify genetic and environmental links to developmental disabilities. In the fall of 2007, California researchers began recruiting a group of 450 children born between September 2003 and August 2007. In the Spring of 2012 research will begin on a second phase for which we will recruit children born in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties between January 2008 and December 2011.

Participants will include:

• Children with developmental disabilities
• Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
• Children without developmental disabilities

SEED is the largest study of its kind to date. Across the country, about 6,000 children and their parents are participating. This includes families from many different backgrounds in six different states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Benefits for families who participate in SEED include:

• A free developmental evaluation of their children from medical experts
• $200.00 to $300.00 in gift cards for their valuable time
• Feeling good about helping others

We will collect information that will help us get a complete picture of how children with and without developmental disabilities look and act at different ages.
Parents will be asked to:

• Fill out questionnaires at home
• Answer questions in a telephone interview
• Make one or two visits to a clinic in San Jose or Oakland for the developmental evaluation of their child (transportation can be arranged)
• Give permission for researchers to look at medical records to learn about the health history of the family

Parents and children will give samples of cheek cells and blood that will be used to look at genetic and environmental factors. SEED staff will work closely with families to answer questions and make it easy and comfortable to participate. Families who take part in SEED will make an important contribution to the health and development of all children.

You can be a part of SEED if:

• You have a child between 2 and 5 years old, and
• Your child was born in Alameda or Santa Clara County, and
• Your child currently lives in Alameda or Santa Clara County, and
• Your child lives with his or her biological mother, and
• You speak English or Spanish

For more information, or to see if your family is eligible to participate, please call:
510-620-3700
or
1-866-470-6115

Or e-mail
autism@cdph.ca.gov


SEED is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In California SEED is being carried out by Kaiser Permanente Northern California and the California Department of Public Health. Families do not have to be Kaiser members to participate.