Mandarin and the Southside are well placed for autism services in Jacksonville. The regional autism center, the APD office and Hope Center's Jacksonville center are all on this side of the St. Johns River. This guide lists the offices Mandarin and Southside families use, with addresses and phone numbers from each agency's own page in October 2026, then explains how to start ABA. Confirm before you go; offices move and numbers change.
Where is Hope Center's Jacksonville center?
Hope Center for Behavior Change's Jacksonville center is at 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256, on the Southside. It is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. From the center, our team also provides ABA in Mandarin and Southside homes, schools, daycares and the community.
- Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East (Humana Military). Self-pay with a sliding scale is available for all services. Your costs depend on your plan, and the benefits check is free.
- No waitlist. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after your insurer approves the plan.
- Languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
- Beyond sessions: staff can join IEP meetings, doctor visits, haircuts and dental visits where allowed.
See our Jacksonville ABA page.
What does CARD Jacksonville offer, and where is it?
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the UF College of Medicine, Jacksonville, is one of Florida's seven regional autism centers under s. 1004.55. It serves Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Its office is on St. Augustine Road, a short drive from Mandarin:
- 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32217
- Phone: (904) 633-0760
UF says CARD services "are provided free of charge to individuals with autism and related disabilities, to their families and to the professionals who work with them." You can pre-register through its secure online form, in English or Spanish. CARD provides consultation, training and help finding resources; it is not a therapy provider. See CARD vs an ABA provider.
Who do I call if my child is under 3, or 3 to 5?
- Under 3: Northeastern Early Steps, run by the UF College of Medicine, Jacksonville, department of pediatrics, serves Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker and Bradford counties. Address: 910 N. Jefferson St., Jacksonville, FL 32209. Phone: (904) 427-7600. Anyone, including a parent, can refer a child. UF says Early Steps services are provided at no cost to families, regardless of income. See our Early Steps guide.
- Ages 3 to 5: FDLRS Crown handles Child Find screening for Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. Address: 1531 Winthrop St., Jacksonville, FL 32206. Phone: 904-346-4601. See FDLRS and Child Find.
Which APD office serves Mandarin and the Southside?
Duval County is in APD's Northeast Region. The Jacksonville office serves Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties:
- 3631 Hodges Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32224
- Phone: (386) 238-4607
APD serves people whose developmental disability, including autism, began before 18. It accepts an autism diagnosis only from a Florida-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, a board-certified pediatric neurologist qualified to diagnose autism, a board-certified developmental pediatrician, or an out-of-state evaluator with matching credentials. Waiver funding can take years, so apply early. See how to apply for APD services.
How do Duval schools handle evaluations and private ABA?
For a child in a Duval County public school, start with the school's ESE (exceptional student education) contact and ask for an evaluation in writing. Under Rule 6A-6.0331, the district has 30 days to ask for consent or explain in writing why it refuses, and after you consent the evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days, not counting some breaks. For ages 3 to 5, FDLRS Crown is the usual first step.
Florida law (s. 1003.572) lets a family's private BCBA or RBT observe, collaborate and provide services at a public school when the child's teachers and principal agree on the time and place. Read private ABA in Duval schools and our school-based ABA page.
Are there sensory-friendly programs nearby?
- Jacksonville Public Library has run a Sensory Friendly Storytime for children ages 2 to 5 with sensory sensitivities, with capped attendance, at branches including the Mandarin Branch (3330 Kori Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257). Past listings required registration and a library card. Check the library's events calendar or call (904) 255-2665 for current dates. The South Mandarin Branch is at 12125 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223. For disability accommodations, the library asks for 1 to 2 business days' notice (JPLprograms@coj.net).
- City of Jacksonville Adaptive Recreation, run by the Disabled Services Division with local partners, lists athletics, baseball, basketball, cycling, football, goalball, kayaking, surfing, swimming and tennis. Phone (904) 255-5466, TTY (904) 255-5475, DisabledServices@coj.net. Ask which programs fit your child's age.
Should we sign up for the special medical needs registry?
The City of Jacksonville's Emergency Preparedness Division keeps the registry. In a February 2025 announcement, the city listed people with cognitive impairments who need specialized support, including autism, among those who should register. Its JaxReady page says eligibility covers physical, medical, cognitive or sensory disabilities that need basic medical help, that a caregiver or family member must go to the shelter with the registrant, and that you must re-register every year.
- Register online at snr.flhealthresponse.com, or call (904) 255-3172.
- Registering does not guarantee a special needs shelter: health department staff review each application, and some people are referred to other shelters.
- The city lists Atlantic Coast High School (9735 RG Skinner Parkway) and Bartram Springs Elementary (14799 Bartram Springs Parkway) among its most accessible shelters. Not every shelter opens in every emergency, so check JaxReady before you go.
See how to register for a special needs shelter.
How do we start ABA at the Belfort Parkway center?
- Contact us with your address, your child's age and diagnosis, your insurance and how soon you want to start.
- Send back the intake documents. We run a free benefits check.
- Initial assessment: 2 to 4 hours with a BCBA over one or two sessions, at home or at the Belfort Parkway center. You can ask to meet your assigned staff first.
- Treatment plan: written within about two weeks and reviewed by our clinical director. You sign it and we submit it to your insurer.
- Start: usually 3 to 5 business days after approval.
As an example only: with paperwork returned quickly, families can go from first call to first session in as little as three weeks; slow documents or insurer reviews can stretch that to months. See our intake timeline and the Duval County guide. Request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.