Meet a Team Member: Tamara Trejos
Tamara Trejos brings heart, humor and a perspective shaped from sitting on both sides of the teaming table to her work in High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW). With 20 years in mental health, 15 years in Wraparound and 10 years as a licensed marriage and family therapist, she has spent much of her career partnering with youth, families and the people who support them.
During her five years with UC Davis as an instructor and HFW Specialist, Tamara has helped bring Wraparound to life through teaching, developing practical tools and curriculum, and supporting the people doing this work every day. She also brings her voice and love of writing to the Wraparound Connections newsletter as an author, contributor and editor.
But ask Tamara what shapes her work most and she’ll tell you it’s being a mom to two children with developmental and mental-health needs. Navigating systems as both a parent and a professional keeps her grounded in what those conversations, meetings and plans feel like for the families living them. Whether she’s teaching, writing or helping teams work through a challenge, Tamara’s focus is on the children, youth and family’s experiences of Wraparound and optimizing positive outcomes.
What Is a ‘Magic Ingredient’ of Wraparound?
“I think it is that Wraparound takes a non-judgmental approach to learning about the families, and treating them with positive regard no matter their history or situation. It’s the way Wraparound shines a bright light on their individual and family strengths and the persistence of always showing up no matter what has happened or how many times the family has declined, canceled, rescheduled, screamed at, hung-up on or slammed a door in their face, Wraparound staff remain positive and ready to help. Wraparound staff show families that it is OK to have a bad day, and you can wake up the next day and start over."
What Makes Wraparound So Successful?
“Wraparound isn’t successful, families are successful, and when something isn’t looking ‘successful,’ then it is the plan that needs revising and the needs that need revisiting. Wraparound cannot take credit for any successes, because the success belongs to the families; we are here to support, witness their journey and cheer them on.”