Kern Regional Center is one of 21 Regional Centers for persons with developmental disabilities in California. Started as a grassroots movement, Regional Centers were originally established to assist persons with intellectual disabilities — and their families —  in identifying and developing services and programs within their communities that help them lead more independent lives.

Each a non-profit, community-based organization, Regional Centers were established in 1965 under legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Frank Lanterman. The Lanterman Act became effective in 1969 and later expanded the populations served to include persons with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other disabling conditions requiring services similar to individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.