Wraparound Process
The wrapround process is a way to improve the lives of children with complex mental health needs and their families. It is not a program or a type of service. It is a step-by-step process in how services are delivered to families. Services should be family driven, youth guided, community based and culturally sensitive to the needs of the family. That is each family receives indivdualized services based on their family needs, culture, ethnicity, perference and each family is treated with respect.
The key characteristics of the process are to:
- Create a plan of care that is accepted and approved by the parents of each child involved in the wraparound process.
- Create a plan of care that is specifically addressing the unique needs of the family.
- Identify the strengths and needs of the child and family.
- The creation of a family support system where the family form a Child & Family Team (CFT) of supports to help with the decisions of what is best for the child and the family.
- Educating and empowering families and youth to take an active role in planning what care they feel they need to move to the next level in life and reach independence.
- Identifying natural supports that exist within the family structure and the community.
- Create an awareness, understanding and utlization of natural supports.
- The creation of an individualize plan of care that supports the whole family, therby strengthening the family.
- Bringing all parties to the table to discuss what is the best method to help the parents address the needs of the child, particularly when the child or family is receiving services or supports from more than one system (i.e., Department of Social Services, Juvenile Justice, or Department of Mental Health).
All services and supports provided to the family must be based on the principle of being culturally competent. That is to say, services and supports must be tailored to the unique culture of the child and family.
Family culture refers to the families race and ethnicity, their individual beliefs, language, rituals, dress, religion, socio-economic status, and based on evaluating “one family at a time.”
These services and supports can be either natural supports (not paid or provided through the system) or paid services (formal services or supports). We will define natural supports and formal support next.