WrapAround is a way of organizing and sustaining the God-given impulses within a church congregation to care for those who struggle with complex needs - especially needs made complicated by psychiatric difficulties. It is a strength-based planning process that doesn't burn people out but does make a long-term difference. WrapAround is also at the leading edge of developments in the field of mental health.
Faith communities have known about the "wraparound" concept for ages, and they practice elements of it regularly. It happens as part of pastoral care and outreach work in the community, through large and small churches, in rural and urban communities.
Yet difficulties can arise when a faith community is involved with a family with very complex or overwhelming needs. The resources of the faith community are challenged. Solutions are often of a short term nature, they tend to simply be repeated on a regular basis, and caregivers can burn out.
In response, more and more members of faith communities are finding the WrapAround process to be a realistic, effective approach. Read one church's story of how WrapAround transformed its outreach work and gave it a truer sense of living out the mission of Christ. The resources not only of church, but also of community are invested in the well-being of the family asking for help.
As a result of interest from a number of faith communities, the Shalem Mental Health Network is now pioneering a way of assisting churches who wish to use WrapAround to support parishioners or community members who struggle with complex, overwhelming and persistent needs. Together with our partner Stoney Creek United Church W.R.A.P., we have tailored the WrapAround training, coaching and support process to apply specifically to the needs of faith communities, and we have begun with several churches.
Interested in finding out how to become a WrapAround congregation? Please contact either June Zwier (east of Toronto) by email or phone 905-623-9901, or Elske De Visch Eybergen, Director of WrapAround Services (Toronto, west and south of Toronto) by email or phone: 905-528-0353 or 1-866-347-0041.