Wraparound Services Positively Impact Youth

​The dedicated efforts of Sacramento County's Division of Behavioral Health Services (BHS), in partnership with community-based providers, continue to positively impact youth with High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) Services. Zavion and Serenity are two inspiring teens whose stories exemplify how support services can positively change lives.

Think of Sacramento County's HFW Services, more commonly referred to as the Wraparound Program, as a personalized support system that helps kids and families when they are most vulnerable. It's a team of caring professionals who "wrap" around these youth and their families during tough times.

Whether it's to help foster youth or youth who have been involved with law enforcement, or providing a family with the tools they need to stay together, the Wraparound Program makes a real difference.​

For Zavion, he faced more challenges than many could even imagine. He frequently encountered obstacles that left him feeling lost and uncertain about his future at a young age. With the help of the Wraparound Program, he found the strength to turn his life around.

"You know, I've been through some really rough times, but I got through it by challenging myself," said Zavion with a sense of accomplishment while reflecting on his journey. "It's been rough, but I've accomplished something."

Zavion completed his high school credits, graduated and was recently offered an internship at a wellness center where he now supports other young people in his community. This fall, he's preparing for a new milestone - starting community college.

Serenity's story is equally inspiring. She was initially referred to the Wraparound Program with significant challenges, including a difficult home environment and struggles with aggression but embraced the help offered to her. She quickly dove deep into therapy and learned new ways to cope, and her hard work paid off.

Serenity graduated from high school early and earned a scholarship to a college in Vermont. She has volunteered her time at a wellness center, traveled to Africa and is writing a book about her experiences to share with others who might be facing similar challenges.

"It is gratifying to watch these kids get the opportunity to change the trajectory of their futures," said Brian Olden, Wraparound Program Monitor for Sacramento County. "Zavion and Serenity illustrate the combined effort of clients who make good use of services, as well as the dedication, persistence, and hard work of the providers who steadfastly adhere to the HFW principles."

Much of the success seen with Sacramento County's HFW services comes from its focus on giving families a voice in their care, working collaboratively with other services and supporting children in stable, loving environments. To help keep kids from bouncing around from home to home, the Wraparound Program's primary objective is stability and permanency, which reduces the need for group home placements and institutional care.

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Sacramento County partners with, and funds contracts for, three local nonprofit agencies to provide HFW Services - River Oak Center for Children, Sacramento Children's Home and Stanford Sierra Youth and Families.

In addition to Probation and Child Welfare, BHS and wraparound provider agencies collaborate with various child-serving systems and individuals including schools, regional centers and health care providers.

Child Protective Services (CPS) and Sacramento Probation departments refer youth to the Wraparound Program. With the referral, BHS County staff coordinate the implementation of care and together all agencies work to ensure every child has a chance to thrive.

An estimated 90% of youth are referred by CPS and 10% by probation. Not all families and youth referred are ready to engage but the impact of Sacramento County's HFW Services remains clear. In the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 - 2024, 80% of the youth who completed the program were able to successfully move forward, ready to embrace a brighter future.

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