Announcing the New California Wraparound Steering Committee
In various contexts, we all heard, and may have even experienced, the proverb “It takes a village…”. I can’t think of a child and family serving community that embodies this sentiment more that California Wraparound. It takes a village to heal and uplift the children and families we serve, and likewise, it takes a village to support our Wraparound community. So many changes and reforms are occurring across all of California’s child and family serving systems, from Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) to the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) to California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) to Children and Youth System of Care (SOC). Wraparound is an obvious, tried and true practice and community that integrates each of these system changes and reforms in an effort to improve the lives of children and families throughout our state.
As such, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and UC Davis Human Service’s Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice (RCFFP) are renewing our support of Wraparound in California. And we know continued support and improvement of Wraparound takes all of us… our entire village. That’s why we’re excited to convene the California Wraparound Steering Committee!
The Steering Committee met for the first time in July 2020, and has since been busy forming its team. After an intensive strategic planning meeting in September, the Steering Committee adopted the following as their purpose statement:
“The purpose of the Steering Committee is to develop a collaborative California Wraparound community that seeks to build continuity in practice and improve equitable safety, wellbeing and permanency outcomes for children and families through the provision of high-fidelity Wraparound programs.”
Further, the Steering Committee will jointly plan California Wrapround Advisory Committee (CWAC) meetings, communicate what is and isn’t working from the field, analyze data, review curriculum and co-create policy, program, fiscal and workforce development guidance and proposals for input, advice and feedback from the California Wraparound community.
And, as always, we are grateful the California Wrapround Advisory Committee and the Wraparound Hubs will continue to offer support to the Wraparound community and advise CDSS and RCFFP on Wraparound-related programs, issues and needs.
The Steering Committee was selected to ensure representation from county child welfare, probation, behavioral health and fiscal agencies; Wraparound providers; parent and youth partners; local education agencies; Wraparound Hubs; CWAC workgroups; and Wraparound champions at-large.
California Wraparound Steering Committee Members
Amy Bailey, California Department of Social Services
Tom Cella, Star View Community Services
Ebony Chambers, Stanford Sierra Youth and Families, Parent Partner Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Rebekah Cox, Victor Community Support Services, Southern California Wraparound Hub Chair
Lauren Crutsinger, Seneca Family of Agencies
TerryLynn Fisher, County of Orange Social Services Agency
Anabel Godoy, Olive Crest
Nancy Hafer, UC Davis Human Services, Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice
Manuel Lua, Victor Community Support Services
Brittany Nelson, Casa Pacifica
Jonathan Nibbio, Family Care Network
Chris Pettee, California Department of Social ServicesMichael Rauso, LA County DCFS
Elizabeth Rhodes, Humboldt County DHHS
Dawne Shaw, Oak Grove Center
Manpreet Singh, California Department of Social Services
Kim Stokem, Contra Costa County Behavioral Health
Jarred Vermillion, Heroes Initiative
Thomas Webster, Santa Clara Probation
Daniel Wilson, California Department of Social Services
Janine LeSieur, California Department of Social Services
Collectively, this team has over 215 years of Wraparound experience, and they represent backgrounds, experiences, roles, knowledge, organizations and geographies from across California that are as diverse and varied as the California Wraparound community itself. As we move forward with uplifting and renewing support of Wraparound to improve our systems and to help children and families heal and thrive, we look forward to partnering with all of you, our California Wraparound community.
As such, if you have any advice, thoughts, suggestions or questions, please reach out to CDSS at WraparoundQuestions@dss.ca.gov, resourcecenter@ucdavis.edu or any of the Steering Committee members at any time.