What is Wraparound?

Wraparound is not a program or a service – it's a process and an approach. The process involves the family, child, natural supports, agencies and community services working together as a team to develop, implement and evaluate a plan called the Individualized Service Plan. The plan is based on the identified strengths, interests and needs of the child and their family. Throughout the process, members of the Child and Family Team, continue to come together to access how to best meet those needs and improve the lives of the child or adolescent with complex behavioral and emotional challenges.

The Wraparound approach is based on the following principles:

• Strength-based: Focus is on assets rather than deficits. Human services have traditionally relied on the deficit model, focusing on pathology. Positive reframing to assets and skills is a key component of all wraparound planning.
• Unconditional care: Services are changed to meet the changing needs of the child and family.
• Normalization: Plans are focused on what is normal within the family, community and culture.
• Owned by the parent or legal guardian: The parent/guardian is an integral part of the team and has ownership of the plan.
• Individualized: Services are created to meet the unique needs of the child and family through the Child and Family Team meetings
• Needs-driven: Services are not based on a pre-set "menu" of what is available. Services are a combination of existing or modified services, newly created services, informal supports and community resources.
• Community-based: Services are provided in the community as much as possible.
• Culturally competent: Services are tailored to the unique values and cultural needs of the child, family and culture that the family identifies with.
• Comprehensive: Planning and services are comprehensive, addressing needs across all life domains. These life domains are: family, living situation, educational/vocational, social/ recreational, psychological/emotional, medical, legal, and safety/crisis.
• Crisis plan: Each family develops a crisis plan with their team.
• Outcome measures: These are identified and the plan is evaluated and modified systematically and often.