I want to say thank you to Jim Rydingsword and Mariposa County for the new program called "The Wrap Around Program". In September of this year, Mariposa adopted this program, and it so far has been a huge help to families in "the system." It surprises me that alot of the residents here in Mariposa have not heard of it, so I want to let it be known.

It is an alternative for kids and families that are involved in foster care, or the juvenile system. It is a chance to keep kids in their home, instead of removing them and being put in placement. Of course, it includes the families, but it also has the help of behavior modification, to help parents to becoming structured.

It has therapy for the kids and parents, it has probation involved, the school system, and most importantly it has alot of people in this community volunteering their time to be mentors, friends, and a support team. The family chooses its team, and it can be pretty much anyone they chose, to help in a crisis, or to just be there to listen. This program is to help the kids and family be able to focus on the positive, as well as the negative, and to help find solutions to the problems that the kids are having.

One of the most important things about this program is knowing that you are not alone. The ones that are on your team are there for you. There is so much more to this program than just the few things that I have mentioned, and I could go on and on. So far it has been a blessing to us.

We were the first family chosen for this program, and it has only been a month, but in that month, we have gotten so much help and support, and things that we thought were not imaginable, are. Everyone on our team is fantastic, and each person has their own ideas, or their own individual strengths. They are all unique, and the all care about our family, and without them, we would not be on the road we are right now.

I want to give special thanks to "The Wheat's Dream Team." You’re all so very awesome. Thank you for accepting us into this program, and coming into our lives, without judgement, but with the caring support that you have given us all.

Eileen Kelley (Wheat)