Aspiranet Expands Local Child and Family Services in Tulare County

Visalia office moves to a new location to handle increased services to families

Keeping children with their birth families, relative caregivers or foster families and out of higher levels of care is the ultimate goal of the Wraparound Program.

In July of 2016, Aspiranet Visalia was awarded the contract for the Tulare County Wraparound program that allows the agency to serve up to 20 youth and their families. “We are excited and looking forward to providing comprehensive services to our youth within the larger system of care in Tulare County, and adding a clinician to our Wraparound team,” commented Trina Newberry, Aspiranet Wraparound Program Director.

Wraparound is a planning process that walks the family through a series of steps and designated family centered phases by providing intensive, comprehensive integrated and creative treatment intervention support services. 

“Tulare County was looking for a provider to include a clinical component to their Wraparound program,” explained Sharon Lawicki, Aspiranet Division Director. “Aspiranet was able to meet this need as this is the program model used by Aspiranet in Stanislaus, Merced, and Los Angeles Wraparound programs, which includes a therapist as a team member.” Aspiranet combines a rehabilitation model that is traditional in the social work profession with a medical model that is standard in the mental health profession.  The result is a service delivery that is intended to meet all of the family’s needs in a balanced manner, where the family’s needs are (i.e., at home, at work, at school, in the community, and a the Aspiranet office), when the family experiences their needs (i.e., 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, at the convenience of the family) with the goal of promoting independence from public assistance and interdependence on natural family and community resources.  Services that are provided are strength-based and supportive.

Aspiranet Visalia serves approximately 250 youth and 150 families in Tulare and Kings Counties through Foster Care, Adoption, REACH (pre and post adoption services and support) , and Transitional Housing Program (THP) for transition age foster youth.  With the new Wraparound contract, the original office space that was already at staff capacity, could not sustain the doubled increase in staff. Josh Mishou, Aspiranet Program Director stated, “Our new office location at 1840 South Central Street in Visalia not only accommodates the new number of staff, but also allows us to invite more community partners to our office for meetings and trainings due to the increase in conference room space as well.”

“Our goal with Wraparound is to provide individualized support to each family according to their strengths and needs. This unconditional partnership promotes success, safety and permanence in the home, school and the community,” said Lawicki. “Families can expect support from a caring team who will get to know and honor their family culture.” 

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) strengthens children, youth, families and communities through seven core programs including: Foster Care, Adoption, Residential, Transition Age Youth, Behavioral Health, Intensive Home Based Services and Family and Community Services throughout 45 locations within California.

Founded in 1975 as a six-bed group home for young boys in Moss Beach, Calif., Aspiranet is one of the most diverse nonprofit social service agencies in the state. With a statewide network of innovative services, Aspiranet serves more than 10,000 families each year. For more information, please visit www.aspiranet.org.