Training Wraparound

Wraparound workforce development efforts should:

• Follow best practice in adult-learning
• Embed transfer of learning strategies to ensure training material is implemented in daily work
• Provide follow up coaching to solidify skills learned in training
• Ensure materials and instruction are trauma-sensitive and highlight trauma awareness.
• Invite and encourage fiscal, contract, and other staff who support the administrative structure of Wraparound programs to attend Wraparound training.
• Ensure leadership is involved in trainings and are trained to their role supporting the Wraparound work
• Define and track performance and outcome measures to evaluate workforce development effectiveness

Wraparound training should be led by an experienced trainer with expert-level Wraparound knowledge and should be co-led by staff who leads with lived expertise, including youth or parent partners. Both trainers may have lived expertise, but the role of one should be to specifically share information through the lens of their lived expertise. The partnering of an experienced trainer with staff with lived experience (or of using expert-level trainers that also have lived experience) ensures the training curriculum is relevant, inclusive, and reflective of the realities faced by those receiving Wraparound services. If only one trainer leads the course, and they do not have lived expertise, ensure the voices of those with lived experience are highlighted.

The training team (either individually or combined) delivering each training must meet the following requirements (if only one trainer they must meet all):

• In-depth knowledge of Wraparound principles and phases and experience delivering Wraparound services with youth and families.
• Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) certified and be able to include anecdotal stories about the inclusion of the CANS tool in Wraparound services.
• Direct, trauma-informed experience providing formal training. 

Training should be structured with consideration of target audience, the learning objectives, and the resources available to staff of each agency. The training structure and delivery should be engaging, interactive, and relevant to participants' needs, and incorporate opportunities for practice, feedback, and reflection to enhance learning and skill development.

Tips for structuring Wraparound trainings:

• Wraparound’s values and principles serve as the foundation for all Wraparound training: Training should consistently reflect the principles and values of Wraparound. The ten principles of Wraparound should be embedded in all trainings to align training content with the approach staff use with youth and families.
• Training is always trauma-informed and presented in the context of the four phases of Wraparound: Engagement, Plan Development, Implementation, and Transition: A trauma-informed lens should be embedded throughout all content, language, and delivery methods. Training includes opportunities for attendees to practice trauma awareness and build trauma-informed care skills using varied learning styles. Content should clearly indicate how the knowledge and skills taught apply in the context of the four phases of Wraparound.
• Training is structured with consideration of the target audience, learning objectives, local processes and the resources available to staff at each agency: Training design should be tailored to reflect the roles, experience levels, and local context of participants. Content should be flexible enough to integrate emerging best practices, policy changes, or population-specific adaptations.
• The structure and delivery of training should be engaging, interactive, and relevant to participants’ needs: Include opportunities for active learning, such as group work, role play, and scenario-based problem-solving. Integrate realistic examples and dilemmas that promote critical thinking, role clarity, and inter-agency coordination. Incorporate visual, auditory, experiential, and kinesthetic methods to ensure accessibility and relevance for all participants.
• Tailor training segments to role-specific needs: Offer breakouts or targeted modules for facilitators, family/youth partners, supervisors, and other stakeholder roles to build role-aligned competencies.
• Embed cultural humility and respect throughout training content and delivery: Use inclusive language, culturally relevant examples, and create space for dialogue around identity, bias, and cultural responsiveness.
• Include family and youth voice in training development and facilitation: Engage those with lived experience in Wraparound to share their perspectives and co-facilitate segments where appropriate.
• Assess knowledge and confidence before and after training. Incorporate opportunities for reflection, feedback, and real-time coaching. Reinforce alignment with fidelity tools and outcome measures: Use pre/post assessments to track growth and gather input to inform future improvements. Facilitate reflective discussions, offer feedback loops, and provide follow-up coaching to support application in practice. Connect training content to tools such as the Wraparound Fidelity Index (WFI), Team Observation Measure (TOM), or local evaluation frameworks.
• Plan for sustainability and scalability: Provide access to facilitator guides, handouts, digital materials, and booster session frameworks to ensure long-term capacity building.

The following are suggested training topics to expand and enhance staff growth within their role. These topics are examples of training to be provided in addition to general Wraparound training (see Foundational Wraparound Training Checklist) and agency specific training for all roles and positions.

Youth Partner and Parent Partners

• Appropriate Use of Self and Lived Experience
  • Mentoring
  • Boundaries
  • Self-awareness
• Engagement Strategies
• Advocacy
  • Bridging youth and families to professional providers
  • Amplification of the youth’s perspective
  • Supporting the caregiver/family in navigating complex systems
  • Coaching self-advocacy
  • Providing youth and family centered feedback to professional team members
  • Coaching youth and caregivers on development and telling of their own story
• Education to the youth and family on the Wraparound process
• Building Natural Supports and Connections
• Accessing Community Resources
• Self-Care and Coping/Resiliency Skills
• Child and Family Teaming – Role Specific Responsibilities
• Understanding and Navigating California’s System of Care

Facilitators

• Wraparound and Child and Family Team (CFT) Meeting Facilitation
  • Agenda planning
  • Engaging team members (including natural supports)
  • Leading effective meetings
  • Team dynamics and conflict resolution
  • Documentation (including minutes and plan of care)
  • CFT mandates and requirements
• Facilitation of the Phases and Activities of Wraparound
  • Engagement Phase
    • Strengths, Needs and Culture Discovery
    • Team Mission Statements
    • Family Vision Statements
    • Life Domains
  • Plan Development Phase
    • Plan of Care Development
    • Needs Statements
    • Benchmarking
    • Goal Setting/Outcome Statements
    • Safety Planning
  • Implementation Phase
    • RAAAR (Review, Assess, Adjust, Assign, Revisit) process
    • Monitoring outcomes
    • Maintaining team cohesion, connection and motivation
  • Transition Phase
    • Transition Planning
    • Culturally Relevant and Respectful Celebrations
    • Post-transition Safety Planning
    • Care Coordination/Intensive Care Coordination (ICC)
    • Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM)
    • Trauma and Change Theories (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, neuroscience, solution-focused skills, etc.)

Family Specialist

• Engagement
• Skill Building
  • Building and Developing Strengths
  • Evidence Based Practices for Skill Building
  • Behavior Modification Planning
  • Self-Care and Coping/Resiliency Skills
• Crisis Navigation and De-Escalation Techniques
• Resource Navigation
• Building Natural Supports
• Enhancing Connections in Community and School Environments
• Providing Family-Centered Interventions
• Child and Family Teaming – Role Specific Responsibilities

Wraparound Fidelity Coach

• Subject Matter Expert on High Fidelity Wraparound
• Wraparound Theory of Change
• Leadership and Coaching Skills
• Evaluation and Outcomes Monitoring
• Wraparound Fidelity Tools
  • Wraparound Fidelity Index (WFI)
  • Team Observation Measure (TOM)
  • Document Assessment and Review Tool (DART)

Wraparound Trained Clinician

• Clinical Theories That Align/Inform Wraparound Practice (e.g., Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Community Based Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, etc.)
• Engagement
• Clinical Assessment
• Treatment Planning
• Trauma Informed Therapeutic Practices
• Mental Health Evidenced Based Practices
• ICPM
• Collaboration and Coordination of Care
  • Confidentiality in the context of team-based work
  • Partnering with other roles
  • Collaborating with system partners
• Child and Family Teaming – Role Specific Responsibilities

Wraparound Supervisor/Manager

• Advanced Wraparound Subject Matter Expertise
• Field Supervision and Evaluation
• Wraparound fidelity tools (e.g., WFI-EZ, TOM, DART)
• Managing Flex Funds
• Employee Professional Development and Supervision
  • Accountability for job role and performance
  • Coaching and giving effective feedback
  • Team dynamics and conflict resolution
  • Supporting staff training and onboarding
  • Managing transitions and staff turnover
• Program Sustainability
• System of Care and Community Parter Coordination and Collaboration
• Data-driven Supervision and Quality Improvement Strategies
• Supervising for Wraparound fidelity and outcomes
• Building and sustaining Wraparound culture
• Leadership Development

 Clinical Supervisor

• Wraparound Fidelity
  • Supervising for Wraparound fidelity and outcomes
  • Building and sustaining Wraparound team culture
  • Leading case consultations that align with Wraparound principles and values
  • Wraparound fidelity tools (e.g., WFI-EZ, TOM, DART)
• Clinical Documentation and Medical Necessity
• Billing Practices and Medi-Cal Requirements (if applicable)
• Data-driven Supervision and Quality Improvement Strategies
• Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in Supervisory Roles
• Navigating Confidentiality and Information-Sharing Laws
• System of Care Coordination and Collaboration
• Supervising Care Coordination in Multi-System Environments
• Leadership Development
• Employee Professional Development and Supervision
  • Accountability for job role and performance
  • Coaching and giving effective feedback
  • Team dynamics and conflict resolution
  • Supporting staff training and onboarding
  • Managing transitions and staff turnover

There are multiple approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of a single training or overall training plan, some examples include:

1. The Impact of Training & Technical Assistance (IOTTA) has been developed for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of Wraparound training and coaching programs. For more information on this and other measures, see the Wraparound Evaluation and Research Team (WERT) https://depts.washington.edu/wrapeval/content/home.

2. Post-training participant feedback surveys to assess participants’ immediate reactions and perceived relevance of the training.

• Sample questions:
  • On a scale of 1 to 5, how relevant was the training content to your role in Wraparound services?
  • To what extent did the training improve your understanding of Wraparound principles (e.g., team-based, family-driven, culturally competent)?
  • How confident do you feel in applying what you learned to your day-to-day responsibilities?
  • Were the training materials (slides, handouts) clear and helpful?
  • What topics do you feel need further clarification or practice? (Open-ended)
  • Please rate the trainer(s) on knowledge, facilitation skills, and responsiveness.

3. Skills Pre/Post Self-Assessment to measure knowledge and confidence changes.

• Sample Statements (rate 1–5 before and after training):
  • I can describe the four phases of Wraparound.
  • I understand how to engage families using a strength-based approach.
  • I am confident facilitating team meetings aligned with Wraparound principles.
  • I know how to document a Plan of Care that reflects family voice and choice.

4 Fidelity measurement tools to measure changes in skill and service delivery with youth and families and to measure impact of training efforts on outcomes.

• Wraparound fidelity measurement tools available through WERT (https://depts.washington.edu/wrapeval/content/home): 
  • Wraparound Fidelity Index (WFI-EZ or WFI-4): Measures adherence to Wraparound principles from caregiver, youth, facilitator and team member perspectives.
  • Team Observation Measure (TOM 2.0): Assesses adherence to standards of high-quality Wraparound observed during team meeting sessions
  • Document Assessment Review Tool (DART): Assesses adherence to standards of high-quality Wraparound as noted in youth/family documentation.

Wraparound training should incorporate California’s Integrated Training Guide to align with the Integrated Core Practice Model and the concept of "integrated training". Integrated training encourages alignment in policy and practice expectations across public agencies, partnering organizations, and families involved in the delivery, monitoring, and receipt of cross-system services for children in care. Califorina’s Integrated Training Guide provides recommendations for workforce development within the context of California’s System of Care to cultivate a more compassionate and effective service delivery system for California’s youth and families.

Learn more at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/the-integrated-core-practice-model

NWI Training, Coaching, and Supervision for Wraparound Facilitators

These guidelines from the National Wraparound Initiative (NWI) overview three phases of professional development to move Wraparound facilitators from orientation to innovation in their work with youth and families. 

• Download Guidelines

2018 California Wraparound Training Guidance

Before the California Wraparound Standards were updated to include training standards, the California Wraparound Advisory Committee (CWAC) developed guidance to describe the elements of a training plan necessary to support a high fidelity, trauma-informed Wraparound program. While the California Wraparound Standards supersede this guidance, it remains a helpful resource towards building an effective Wraparound training plan. To access this guidance, read All County Information Notice (ACIN) number I-15-18 “California Wraparound Training Guidance”