The Planning Phase of High Fidelity Wraparound is where a shared vision begins to take shape. It is a phase filled with collaboration, creativity, problem-solving and partnership. Families, youth, natural supporters and professionals come together to identify what matters most, establish a common direction and create a plan for moving forward together.
One of my favorite moments at this year's Partnerships for Well-Being Institute (PWBI) wasn't a keynote speaker or a breakout session; it was sitting in the audience and listening to youth and families share their stories.
That is how Jolene remembers the beginning of her Wraparound journey.
Her three children—Lily-Anne, Hannah and Ernie-Max—were living in foster care and already receiving Wraparound services while she worked to rebuild her life. As she completed residential treatment for substance use and began visitation with her children, she became aware that Wraparound team meetings were taking place without her.
Many people assume the Planning Phase is primarily about creating a Plan of Care, but the reality is that the quality of the plan depends entirely on the quality of the thinking that happens before the plan is written. When teams struggle in the Planning Phase, it is often not because they lack ideas. Most teams have plenty of ideas. The challenge is that they may be focusing on services instead of needs, behaviors instead of underlying causes or deficits instead of strengths.
If you have ever sat in a Wraparound team meeting where one person wants to focus on school attendance, another wants to address family conflict, a third is concerned about mental health treatment and the youth simply wants everyone to stop talking about them, congratulations! You have experienced the High Fidelity Wraparound Planning Phase!
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!
