Wraparound inTarrant County

Family Voice and ChoiceFamily and youth/child perspectives are intentionallyelicited and prioritized during all phases of the wraparound process. Planning is grounded in family members’ perspectives, and the team strives to provideoptions and choices such that the plan reflects family values and preferences.

(My facilitator) “would research and she told me as much as she could about our program. She let me make the decisions on what I really wanted to work on, and we stuck with (it). She would always call and make sure we were OK.”

“At one point … we decided against (having him) on medication…. Then she showed us a lot of different games that you can play to help him focus. She let us know of a lot of different things that were available.”

Team BasedThe wraparound team consists of individuals agreed upon by the family and committed to them through informal, formal, and community support and service relationships.

“We talked about who should be on that team. Even one of his teachers would show up every meeting.”

Natural SupportsThe team actively seeks out and encourages the full participation of team members drawn from family members’ networks of interpersonal and community relationships. The wraparound plan reflects activities and interventions that draw on sources of natural support.

(To build our team) “I asked my pastor … (who has) … always (been) counseling them about one thing or another … since I’ve had them…. It was just something that he did on a regular basis, and his wife would also be involved.”

CollaborationTeam members work cooperatively and share responsibility for developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating a single wraparound plan. The plan reflects a blending of team members’ perspectives, mandates, and resources. The plan guides and coordinates each team member’s work towards meeting the team’s goals.

Even one of his teachers would show up (at) every (wraparound) meeting (along with) outside people. We are a very functioning church, and my mother and people that had a play in his life all the time (were on the team).”

Community BasedThe wraparound team implements service and support strategies that take place in the most inclusive, most responsive, most accessible, and least restrictive settings possible; and that safely promote child and family integration into home and community life.

“Without this program, children might not reach the goals that they know they can … I know as a parent, I didn’t see my kid going anywhere except juvenile hall, and now he’s in high school. I didn’t see that at all, and I’m really proud of him.”

Culturally CompetentThe wraparound process demonstrates respect for and builds on the values, preferences, beliefs, culture, and identity of the child/youth and family, and their community.

“All families don’t need the same thing. You know, it’s like eating. I mean, I may not like cornbread, but another family would."

IndividualizedTo achieve the goals laid out in the wraparound plan, the team develops and implements a customized set of strategies, supports, and services.

“One time (our facilitator) came…right on to church (with us) … I mean, just like one of us. When she would come over here, she would sit right on the floor. The boys would be right there, just lapping every bit of it up, and I said, “You can sit up here.” She said, “No, it’s O.K. I’m gonna sit right here with them on the floor.”

Strengths BasedThe wraparound process and the wraparound plan identify, build on, and enhance the capabilities, knowledge, skills, and assets of the child and family, their community, and other team members.

(My facilitator) “was very proud of me. She said I was strong in some of the stuff that I had been through.”

“We still reward good behavior. We don’t concentrate on the negative…. We don’t concentrate so much on the negative and concentrate on the things that he does good.”

PersistenceDespite challenges, the team persists in working toward the goals included in the wraparound plan until the team reaches agreement that a formalwraparound process is no longer required.

“I would like to continue, but I know that we all need to grow and sometimes have to grow on your own. But I didn’t want to stop because I had such a good experience with it.”

Outcome Based The team ties the goals and strategies of the wraparound plan to observable or measurable indicators of success, monitors progress in termsof these indicators, and revises the plan accordingly.

“I got it now, how to control him, make him be still, sit down and listen, time outs. My facilitator taught me all that you (need to) know … to do it.”

“I can get out and go places. I used to couldn’t go places by myself cause at school, they call me to come and get him or this and that, he’s not acting right or something. I can go in a different room without worrying about what he’s doing in his room. He’s sitting down watching TV or playing with his little cars or something, and I can spend time by myself.”

For more information:Kay Barkin

Hand in Hand817-569-5326

Kay.barkin@mhmrtc.org