From CDSS: Planning Together for Better Outcomes

As counties across California continue preparing High Fidelity Wraparound County Plans and Provider Certification submissions, many are experiencing firsthand what the Planning Phase of Wraparound is all about!

Planning is often exciting, energizing and full of possibilities. It can also be challenging. It requires people to come together, discuss priorities, identify shared goals, navigate differences of opinion and develop strategies that everyone can support. Some counties have found themselves moving quickly through the process, while others are taking more time to build consensus and establish a common direction. Both experiences are a normal part of meaningful collaboration.

In many ways, counties are engaging in the same activities that Wraparound teams use every day.

•    Three major systems are coming together to create one team
•    They are creating a shared mission
•    They are identifying priorities
•    They are negotiating their roles on the team
•    They are brainstorming solutions and strategies
•    They are working through disagreements
•    They are figuring out how to create one plan (instead of three) 

This work is not always simple, but it is important.

Throughout the County Plan Approval planning process, we have seen counties
demonstrate creativity, persistence and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for youth and families. We have also seen new partnerships develop. Existing partnerships grow stronger, and important conversations take place that may not have happened otherwise. These are significant accomplishments that deserve recognition.

You are doing great! Keep going!

The recent Partnerships for Well-Being Institute (PWBI) provided another reminder of what can happen when people come together around a common purpose. Across workshops, presentations and conversations, participants shared innovative ideas, lessons learned and strategies for strengthening systems of care. The same spirit of collaboration that made PWBI successful is evident in the work counties and High Fidelity Wraparound providers are doing every day as they prepare for implementation of California's High Fidelity Wraparound model.

Both before and after the July 8 deadline, we encourage counties and providers to remain focused on the larger purpose behind this work. The goal is not simply the completion of a plan or submission: The true goal is to build sustainable partnerships and create a coordinated, family-centered approach that follows the California High Fidelity Wraparound Standards, thus supporting better outcomes for the youth and families we serve.

Planning takes time. Collaboration takes effort. Consensus takes patience. These realities are not signs that something is wrong. They are often signs that meaningful work is taking place.

Thank you for your continued partnership, leadership and commitment to High Fidelity Wraparound.