Ages 17 years or younger. Only a law enforcement agency, Children's Services Bureau or the Juvenile Court can refer children.
Mary Graham's Children's Shelter provides educational, medical, dental, immunizations and mental health services to all residents. The facility strives to meet the children's recreational, religious, social and emotional needs through various programs/activities. This residential children's shelter provides protective custody on a temporary, emergency basis for abused and neglected children in San Joaquin County. The Shelter also operates a Satellite Shelter Home Program (licensed county foster homes providing protective custody as an alternate living environment to the main facility) and the Walter Britten Visitation Center.
Admission is limited to minors, who qualify under section 300 of the W and I Code (child in need of protection). This determination can only be made by a law enforcement officer, a designated social worker or by order of the Juvenile Court. Time of residence may range between one day to several months, depending upon the difficulty of resolving the problem or locating long-term placement. Admission to, and release from the home are subject to legal procedures.
