Wraparound Services
California Wraparound
What is Wraparound?
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) describes Wraparound as a strengths-based planning process that occurs in a team setting to engage with children, youth, and their families. Wraparound shifts focus away from a traditional service-driven, problem-based approach to care and instead follows a strengths-based, needs-driven approach. The intent is to build on individual and family strengths to help families achieve positive goals and improve well-being. Wraparound is also a team-driven process. From the start, a child and family team is formed and works directly with the family as they identify their own needs and strengths. The team develops a service plan that describes specific strategies for meeting the needs identified by the family. The service plan is individualized, with strategies that reflect the child and family's culture and preferences. California Wraparound is intended to allow children to live and grow up in a safe, stable, permanent family environment. For children and families in the foster care system, the Wraparound process can:
- Enhance strengths by creating a strength-based intervention plan with a child and family team;
- Promote youth and parent involvement with family voice, choice, and preference;
- Use community-based services;
- Create independence and stability;
- Provide services that fit a child and family's identified needs, culture, and preferences;
- Create one plan to coordinate responses in all life domains; and
- Focus on achieving positive goals.
Statewide Wraparound Meetings
California Wraparound Advisory Committee (CWAC)
Email: CalWrapCommittee@dss.ca.gov for further information.
The California Wraparound Advisory Committee (CWAC) is a group whose members collectively makes recommendations, identifies and shares solutions, and promotes best practices related to Wraparound policies and programs. The CWAC convenes on a quarterly basis, twice a year in-person meetings, and twice a year via virtual platform.
Please click the link below to register for the CWAC meetings:
CWAC registration
California Wraparound Hubs
Email: WraparoundQuestions@dss.ca.gov for further information.
The California Wraparound Hubs are regional groups who share information, collaborative practices, and discuss topics relevant to Wraparound. There are currently 3 hubs: Northern, Southern, and Central. The hubs meet quarterly, in-person and via-virtual platform. They are hosted by local Wraparound providers and the meeting locations regularly change.
COVID-19 Resources
A Playbook and Webinars for Supporting Child and Youth Permanency through a Wraparound-Informed Approach during COVID-19
This Playbook is a practical guide for child welfare agencies and service providers to understand and implement Wraparound-informed strategies, recognize the flexible funding available on a short-term basis described in ACL 20-44, and to better understand behavioral health service delivery for child welfare and probation involved youth and families. Please note the flexible foster care rates authorization expired on June 30, 2020 and have not been reauthorized. However, most of the remaining information in the Playbook and webinars remains relevant and helpful.
CDSS General COVID-19 Resources, including COVID-19 related county letters
National Wraparound Implementation Center and National Wraparound Initiative COVID Resources
The purpose of this document is to review key elements of the Wraparound process practice model and potential modifications that may be necessary to effectively support young people and families participating in Wraparound during COVID-19, while also adhering to public health and safety standards.