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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 9Pt. 6Ch. 4§ 18251 Definitions Eligible Children Services

§ 18251 Definitions Eligible Children Services

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 18251 Definitions Eligible Children Services

Key Takeaways

  • •This law is about special help for kids and young adults who are in tough situations, like foster care or having problems at home.
  • •The help is called 'wraparound services'—it’s like a team of people working together to support the kid and their family, focusing on their strengths.
  • •Only certain kids can get this help: those in foster care, at risk of going into foster care, or involved with the juvenile court.
  • •The county gets a set amount of money (called a 'service allocation slot') to pay for this help, and the same money can be used for different kids over time.

Example

A 12-year-old kid named Jamie is having a hard time at home and school. The court says Jamie needs extra help to stay safe and do well.

Jamie might get 'wraparound services'—a team of people (like counselors, teachers, and family) will work together to help Jamie and their family. The county will use special funds to pay for this help.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18251 Definitions Eligible Children Services

As used in this chapter: (a) “County” means each county participating in an individualized or wraparound services program. (b) “County placing or referring agency” means a county welfare or probation department, or a county mental health department. (c) “Eligible child” means a child or nonminor dependent, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is any of the following: (1) A child or nonminor dependent who has been adjudicated as either a dependent, transition dependent, or ward of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, 450, 601, or 602. (2) A child who is the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 and who is participating in a program described in Section 654.2, 725, or 790, and is at risk of placement in out-of-home care. (3) A child or nonminor dependent who is currently, or who would be, placed in out-of-home care. (4) A child who is eligible for adoption assistance program benefits when the responsible public agency has approved the provision of wraparound services in lieu of out-of-home care. (d) “Wraparound services” means community-based intervention services that emphasize the strengths of the child and family and includes the delivery of coordinated, highly individualized unconditional services to address needs and achieve positive outcomes in their lives. (e) “Service allocation slot” means a specified amount of funds available to the county to pay for an individualized intensive wraparound services package for an eligible child. A service allocation slot may be used for more than one child on a successive basis. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 732, Sec. 123. (AB 404) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

probationcounty placing or referring agencyeligible childwraparound servicesservice allocation slotadoptionbenefitshealth

Related Statutes

  • § 4684 Foster Care Funding Rules
  • § 17737 Adoption Services For Special Needs
  • § 18250 County Wraparound Services Program
  • § 18254 Wraparound Services Funding Rate
  • § 18258 Foster Care Medi-Cal Eligibility

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 18251.
View Official Source