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[Top of page]  What Is This Thing Called Wraparound? The term "wraparound" has been widely used around Westchester County for the past several years.
What is Wraparound and where did it come from?
The basic principle of the "wraparound field" is if the needs of a child and family are met, it is likely that
they will have a good or at least an improved life.
The wraparound process is a way to improve the lives of children and families who have complex
needs. It is NOT a program or a type of service. The process is used to help communities individualize plans of care.
History of Wraparound:
It is believed that the first formal effort to de-categorize services and improve outcomes began over 35 years ago in Canada. John Brown work with the Brownsdale programs influenced this new way of
thinking. His programs underlying philosophy was based on needs driven, individualized services that
were unconditional. In 1975, under the direction of Karl Dennis, Kaleidoscope, a private agency, utilized these concepts of individualizing services.
In 1985, Alaska's child-serving system officials (mental health, child-welfare, juvenile justice and education) formed the Alaska Youth Initiative. Under the direction of John VanDenBerg, this efforts
was successful in returning to Alaska almost all youth with complex needs who were placed in out-of-state institutions. Since that time many other states have replicated these attempts.
Core Values and Principles of Wraparound:
John VanDenBerg, and expert in the wraparound movement, identified key elements of Wraparound (Pittsburgh, 1992):
Ø Wraparound efforts must be based in the community.Ø
Services and supports must be individualized to meet the needs of the children and families. Ø The process must be culturally competent and build on the unique values, preferences, and strengths of children and families. Ø Parents must be included in EVERY level of development of the process. Ø
Agencies must have access to flexible, non-categorized funding. Ø The process must be implemented on an inter-agency basis and be owned by the larger community. Ø Wraparound plans must include a balance of formal services and informal community and family resources. Ø
Services must be unconditional. If the needs of the child and family change, the child
and family are not to be rejected from services. Instead, the services must be changed. Ø
Outcomes must be measured. If they are not, the wraparound process is merely an interesting fad. Fortunately, the wraparound process is increasingly the object of scientific
investigations. The results of initial studies are promising.
For additional information on wraparound and Westchester County wraparound training and technical
assistance please contact Michael Orth, Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health at (914) 995-5225 or e-mail: MM06@westchestergov.com
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Westchester Selected as Host Learning Community
for Federal Government
Children's mental health services in Westchester County are among the finest in the nation. The Department of Community Mental Health has been recognized by the federal Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a HOST Learning Community (HLC). State and county officials from all over the United States will be visiting Westchester to observe and learn
about the unique principles that guide Westchester's children's mental health system. Westchester's
mental health system of care was awarded an 8 million dollar federal grant, the only grant of this kind in New York State, to expand its outstanding services is know in Westchester as NETWORK.
A HOST Learning Community is a former grant community, one that is nearing the completion of their grant cycle, or a current community that is experienced in their development and implementation of
systems of care programs. As a former or current grantee of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program, Host Learning Communities serve as an
essential component for providing peer-to-peer technical assistance. They serve as a viable means of learning exchange and excellent resource of information and support for the peer communities also
working to develop and implement effective Systems of Care.
For the year 2001, four Host Learning Communities were identified. The Technical Assistance
Partnership identified one urban, one rural, one county and one tribal community. Westchester has been chosen as the county HLC.
Westchester County will be sharing a simple message with our visitors from across the nation. Create a
model that gives families the tools to heal. Work with the strengths of the family and provide the clinical and support system that each family designs to help solve its own problems.
For additional information on Westchester County Host Learning Community link to
Host Learning Community on this website.
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