WrapAround is meant for persons or families who face complex challenges at the same time - perhaps mental illness combined with poverty, special needs, medical issues, risk of homelessness, significant behavioural difficulties, or other challenges.
WrapAround is a life-planning process that puts the person or family in charge. It builds on what people can do, not what they can't do. It creates community where people are alone. It offers hope for a better life for people whose life circumstances seem to be driving out all hope.
WrapAround is like the past practice of "barn-raising", but with a new twist. When a neighbour's barn burned, someone organized members of the community to rally around, and each then made a contribution in his or her own area of strength, ability and time. Today fewer barns burn, but people's lives can undergo life-shattering, persistent challenges. In such situations, WrapAround is the practice of "people-raising".
How does WrapAround work? In either a community or church setting , volunteers (or, in some cases, paid staff) are found who are interested in becoming WrapAround facilitators. These volunteers receive training in the WrapAround planning process from Shalem or our community partners. They develop skills in discovering people's strengths and culture, identifying their needs, and forming a team to create strength-based options for meeting the needs. They are also schooled in the values that undergird the WrapAround process, values like "nothing about us without us", "never give up", "no blame no shame", and "family matters".
Once trained, and with the ongoing support of an experienced WrapAround coach (provided by Shalem), the facilitator then begins to connect with the person or family in need. In conversation, the facilitator does a thorough strengths discovery with the participant, helps the participant to prioritize their needs, and then pulls together a team of the participant's own choosing (usually 3 - 10 people). The team then strategizes with the participant to meet the needs with solutions based on the strengths of the participant, their family and the team. Our goal is to put people back in charge of their lives so that they don't feel helpless and powerless. Rather, we teach them how to direct their own change process which often leads to hope that their life can be different.
Where resources are needed over and above what the team can provide, the request is fanned out (without identifying information) into the broader community.
At the beginning, facilitators can expect to spend 3 - 5 hours per week doing the work, with the hours normally decreasing as time goes on. While a proven, "best practice" process , WrapAround is not a quick fix. On average we work alongside people for a year or longer until they feel that they can do this work on their own.
Shalem actively supports community WrapAround initiatives in Northumberland , and Hamilton. Shalem is supported by a three-year grant from the Partnership to End Child Poverty program of World Vision Canada for its WrapAround work in downtown Hamilton. Specifically, we are active in the West Hamilton WrapAround program, driven especially by Melrose United Church (the lead organization), the Durand Senior's Residence, First Christian Reformed Church and numerous community volunteers. We also actively support the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness program operated on behalf of the urban Aboriginal community in downtown Hamilton by the Native Women's Centre. The program blends traditional healing practices with WrapAround and is quickly gaining interest from Aboriginal communities across Canada.
Shalem also offers faith-based WrapAround for churches interested in using the WrapAround process for members who face persistent challenges. We have supported a number of churches in this work.
Shalem is also actively engaged with Wrap Canada. Mark Vander Vennen is a Founding Board member of Wrap Canada and currently serves as Board Chair. Andrew Debicki is the Development Director of Wrap Canada, while both Mark and Andrew serve as the co-directors of Wrap Canada's Training and Technical Support Institute. Shalem provides some administrative support to Wrap Canada. Shalem is also an active member of the WrapAround Association of Ontario, where Elske De Visch Eybergen serves as Secretary.
If you or your community is interested in more information about WrapAround, please contact Elske de Visch Eybergen, our Director of WrapAround Services, by email or phone: 905-528-0353 or 1-866-347-0041. Elske is available for training, workshops, facilitator coaching and ongoing support.