The wraparound process focuses on children and their families who are struggling with behavioral and emotional issues as well as mental illnesses. It addresses their needs through a strengths-based, family-driven, culturally competent team approach. A “wraparound facilitator” helps the family develop goals and works with them to create a plan based on those goals. The facilitator then helps link families and the children with the services and support they need, while helping them to communicate effectively with varying agencies.

Part of the process is development of a “wraparound team.” People who are important to the family “wrap around” them, forming a team to help meet the agreed-upon goals. Team members are encouraged to think “outside the box” to meet those goals in ways that are based on the young person’s strengths, driven by the family and sensitive to the family’s culture. Creative strategies developed to meet the needs of each person in the family may include traditional as well as creative approaches and supports.

Members of a wraparound team frequently include representatives from mental health and social service agencies involved in the family ’s life. But they might also include friends, neighbors, teachers, church representatives and others who can help the family meet its goals. This team may think of ways to relieve the caretaker, to provide strong community role models or to offer after-school and summer structure among other tasks. The team then helps the family implement the plan.

Community Solutions, a system of care grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), followed families of teens who participated in wraparound. The results showed significant improvements in grades, family relationships and life skills. Absences and suspensions have dropped, along with drug use.

Hand in Hand, a second system of care grant from SAMHSA, is currently offering wraparound to families with children between birth and 6 who have emotional and/or behavioral issues. This second grant covers Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker and Tarrant County (with the exception of Fort Worth, which was covered by the previous grant). It will also follow the children and families who receive wraparound and report on its effectiveness for familes with children in this age range.

Wraparound helps all of the individuals and systems involved in the children’s and families’ lives:

Families
Families struggling to raise a child with a disability or some other issue of concern find the wraparound process to be a comfortable way to address the challenges they and their children face. Individualized plans make sense to them since they appreciate the uniqueness of their child and their situation. Many families have participated in “one-size-fits-all” programs and have been frustrated by the results. Defined outcomes – a key element of wraparound – are important to them, especially when their individualized plan captures their vision of a better life and a brighter future for their families.

Children Living in Abusive Homes
We must reach out to abusive parents with compassion if we hope to help them change and keep their children safe. Wraparound plans that help families meet their needs often are their best chance for success. When Child Protective Services workers develop wraparound plans, they acknowledge the reality that even very shaky parents have opinions on what is best for their children. Staff members who protect the safety of vulnerable children know the best safety plans reflect the faiths, cultures, heroes, preferred activities and hopes for the future of each participating family. 

Foster Children
Children who are removed from dangerous circumstances and placed outside their family homes are at risk of developing emotional and behavioral issues. They grieve the loss of parents and siblings regardless of the trigger for removal. When each child has an individualized service plan, that grieving can be addressed effectively. Strengths-based plans and interventions help children in placement build new skills and achieve the improved self-esteem that goes hand in hand with skill acquisition.

Juvenile Justice System
Under the Community Solutions grant, some of the children and adolescents participating in wraparound came from the Juvenile Justice system. Professionals in that field understand that different methods are needed for different children when the goal is legal behavior. If the terms for probation are individualized, there is a much better chance that children will successfully complete that probation. Involving each child’s family in a family-centered plan increases the amount of support children receive for safe and legal behavior. When children are engaged in positive activities that build on their strengths, they are far less likely to get into trouble. Many of these children never again find themselves in court facing charges and losing their liberty.

Schools
Situations and circumstances children face outside of school have a direct impact on their ability to learn. However, teachers and school administrators often do not have an opportunity to lend support or assistance when the children are not in the classroom. With wraparound, school professionals can be active in a child’s life both inside and outside of school. School staff members can serve as supportive, active participants in a student’s treatment. In addition, many children connect with specific school staff members and create special relationships. When these individuals become involved as members of the family’s team, they can play an integral role in helping that student to succeed.

Mental Illness
Children with mental illness and their families often are blamed and censured by people who do not understand the illness and the toll it takes on families. Wraparound offers these families honest compassion to help them deal and cope with the illness in their homes. Each person with a mental illness is different and has a different situation in life. With Wraparound, individualized plans meet every special need while focusing on the family’s strengths. And a plan based on strengths helps children and families stay occupied and positive, resulting in support for recovery.

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, April 1-June 30, 2008
Special Report: Qualitative Study of Family Experiences in Wraparound

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, January 1-March 31, 2008

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, October 1-December 31, 2007

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, July 1-September 30, 2007

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, April 1-June 30, 2007

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, January 1-March 31, 2007

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, October 1-December 31, 2006

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, July 1-September 30, 2006

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, April 1-June 30, 2006

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, January 1-March 31, 2006

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, October 1-December 31, 2005

Community Solutions Wraparound Evaluation, July 1-September 30, 2005