Wraparound

We have all experienced wraparound-it is support and care that “wraps around” us just when we need it. It is compassion in action.

For families affected by serious emotional disturbances, “Wraparound” is a way to organize community services and support. It is an evidence based practice that produces positive outcomes for youth and their families.

Wraparound is:

• Family-driven
• Child-centered
• Collaborative
• Culturally competent
• Community-based

A Wraparound specialist walks the family through the Wraparound process. Here are the 10 steps:

1. Decision and Linkage: The Wraparound facilitator establishes a relationship with the family and makes sure they want to participate.
    
2. Initial Safety Check: The facilitator assesses immediate safety issues and sets up a plan
    
3. Discovering Strengths: Get to know the family in a positive way, by looking at strengths, values, beliefs, and culture.
    
4. Selecting and Including Potential Resource People: The family decides who their team members should be. It can be family, friends, PSR providers, probation officers and others.
    
5. First Wraparound Meeting: Convene meeting and define roles for each team member
    
6. Choosing Priorities: Family selects life and domain areas that demonstrate their highest concerns and unmet needs. An example could be transportation to medical appointments.
    
7. Defining and Prioritizing Needs: Help the family and identify what needs to happen to reach the outcome, not services needed.
    
8. Selecting and Assigning Strength-Based Strategies: Use the family’s strengths and interests to generate strategies.
    
9. Crisis, Safety, and Transitions: Refine crisis and safety plans.
    
10. Logistics and Evaluation: Evaluate the process and plan future meetings. Families and team members express what they are experiencing during the process.

Michael’s Success Story
Michael (not his real name) was arrested for being aggressive with family members and threatening to hurt himself. Later on, he was admitted to the hospital. After leaving the hospital, he was referred to a Wraparound facilitator.

He was very resistant to getting any help. His “Wraparound” team met with him and talked about ways to support him while building on his strengths.

Michael became a part of the process and helped create his own plan to keep him on the right track. His plan includes a scheduled time each day to talk to his mom, take his prescribed medication, and go to the YMCA.

His outcomes are tremendous. Over the last three and a half months, Michael has not been hospitalized and the police have not come to his home. He is excelling in his special education classes, and even attending 75 percent of regular classes.

What happens in Wraparound? (10 steps)
Source: Mary Grealish, Community Partners, Inc.