The Wraparound Process: An Overview of Implementation Essentials

I. Overview T wraparound process is an intensive, individualized care planning and management process for children and adolescents1 with complex mental health and/or other needs. Wraparound is often implemented for young people who have involvement in multiple child-serving agencies and whose families would thus benefit from coordination of effort across these systems. Wraparound is also often aimed at young people in a community who, regardless of the system(s) in which they are involved, are at risk of placement in out-of-home or out-of-community settings, or who are transitioning back to the community from such placements. Wraparound is not a treatment per se. The wraparound process aims to achieve positive outcomes for these young people through several mechanisms. For example, wellimplemented wraparound provides a structured, creative and individualized team planning process that, compared to traditional treatment planning, can result in plans that are more effective and more relevant to the family. Additionally, wraparound plans are more holistic than traditional care plans in that they are designed to meet the identified needs of caregivers and siblings and address a range of life areas. Through the team-based planning and implementation process that takes place, wraparound also aims to develop the problem-solving skills, coping skills, and self-efficacy of the Eric Bruns, Co-Director, National Wraparound Initiative, and Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine