Introduction.

I am very pleased to be writing an ongoing story of how we came to be in this space. Like most human endeavours it is a combination of factors, none of which can be underestimated in the contribution they make. Being a parent of a child who is developing differently to their peers is both frightening and powerful in the strength of emotional energy and the need to do the best we can for them.

We have a long story to share and I feel it will emerge as we share information and strategies and resources with you.

My first piece of information is a paper written some time ago that describes the definition of a wraparound service. The NDIS is   offering people choice and control but we need support to understand what that means and it does not happen overnight. We hope that through our service we can demonstrate a model of care based on a wraparound approach that can allow endless possibilities.

Credits*

AUTHOR Burns, Barbara J., Ed.; Goldman, Sybil K., Ed. TITLE Promising Practices in Wraparound for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance and Their Families. Systems of Care: Promising Practices in Children’s Mental Health 1998 Series. Volume IV. INSTITUTION Georgetown Univ. Child Dev

Wraparound is a philosophy of care that includes a definable planning process involving the child and family that results in a unique set of community services and natural supports individualised for that child and family to achieve a positive set of outcomes.

An ecological perspective guides wraparound. This means that development occurs in the context of interactions between the child and his/her environment. To increase healthy functioning, environmental forces, including the family, the community, and the service system, must support the strengths of the child.

Values include voice and choice for the child and family, compassion, flexibility, and the core values of the system of care.

Essential Elements

Ten essential elements of wraparound were identified: Wraparound must be based in the community. Services and supports must be individualised, built on strengths, and meet the needs of children and families across life domains to promote success, safety, and permanence in home, school, and community.

The process must be culturally competent, building on the unique values, preferences, and strengths of children and families, and their communities.

Families must be full and active partners in every level of the wraparound process. The wraparound approach must be a team-driven process involving the family, child, natural supports, agencies, and community services working together to develop, implement, and evaluate the individualized service plan.

Wraparound child and family teams must have adequate, flexible approaches, and flexible funding. Wraparound plans must include a balance of formal services and informal community and family resources. An unconditional commitment to serve children and families is essential.

The plan should be developed and implemented based on an interagency, community-based collaborative process. Outcomes must be determined and measured for the system, for the program, and for the individual child and family

Practice Requirements I

In addition, 10 practice requirements were identified:

• Community collaborative structure

• Strengths and needs assessment

• Administrative and management organisation referral mechanism resource coordinators to facilitate the process

• Interactive team process and f

• Formation of a partnership to develop individualised plan development of a crisis/safety plan

• Measurable outcomes monitored on a regular basis

• Review of plans by the community collaborative structure.

This is the basis of our practice and I will further share with you how we have demonstrated this in the last 12 years.