Wraparound as a Community Mental Health Service Philosophy for Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Wraparound is a mental health services philosophy for children and adolescents. This philosophy includes a defined planning process that involves the child, adolescent, and family in making treatment decisions. As a result, it creates a unique set of individualized community services and natural supports to achieve multiple positive outcomes. This philosophy requires a work process that sometimes becomes uncomfortable for professionals in the mental health area since it takes us away from what we learned in the academy or what the agency we work expects us. This practice invites us to take off the hat of experts in our area of expertise. This article aims to present the Wraparound philosophy as an alternative for community mental health services at the tertiary prevention level for children and adolescents. Also, as an effective process in which communities learn to care for and protect their members by keeping them in the least restrictive environment.