Fred Finch’s Wraparound Program Grows to Meet Rising Mental Health and Behavioral Needs

Whole-Family Healing: The Expansion of Specialized Wrap Across California

At the intersection of behavioral needs and mental health challenges, one program helps families find stability and support through an innovative, whole-family approach. Fred Finch Youth & Family Services’ Specialized Wraparound program (Specialized Wrap) is redefining what coordinated care can look like for individuals with complex needs, and it's expanding its reach across California.

What Sets Specialized Wrap Apart

Unlike many traditional Wraparound programs, Specialized Wrap is one of the few designed specifically to address both behavioral and mental health needs. This dual focus fills a critical gap in services for individuals who require more than just behavioral support or mental health care alone.

"We saw that some families, especially those served by the San Diego Regional Center, had complex needs that were falling through the cracks," said Maria Luna, Senior Director of Dual Diagnosis Community-Based Services. "These were individuals who weren't getting better with just one type of support. They needed both, and they needed it to be integrated."

How the Program Supports Families

Specialized Wrap focuses on a family-systems approach, offering a wide range of services tailored to the unique needs of each household. Supports may include care coordination, coaching, crisis management, psychotherapy, and more.

Importantly, care plans are co-created with families, allowing them to explore strategies and interventions at their own pace. "We view participants and their families as the agents of change," Luna said. "Our role is to guide and empower them throughout the process."

Expansion into Riverside County

After a decade of success in San Diego and Imperial counties, Specialized Wrap recently launched services in Riverside County. The expansion was driven by a clear need.

"All regional centers serve the same population," Luna explained. "If there are unmet needs in San Diego and Imperial, it stands to reason those needs exist in Riverside and beyond."

Since launching in February, the Riverside team has already begun working with five families. The next phase includes building more referrals and growing the team.

What’s Next

The program’s expansion isn't stopping with Riverside. Plans are already underway to serve families in San Bernardino County and eventually Orange County. There’s also interest in extending services to Santa Clara with additional Northern California counties to be determined.

As Specialized Wrap continues to expand, its mission remains clear: to deliver integrated, comprehensive support to families across California—meeting both behavioral and mental health needs in unison, not in isolation.