“Wraparound completely changed my grandson Diego’s Life!”
It all started when a probation officer offered Wraparound to Pam as an option for her grandson, Diego. Pam said she felt inspired to try it, particularly because it was inclusive for grandparents and it was a team-based approach to put together a plan for a their needs. Also, after 27 years in recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Pam saw similarities in Wraparound that felt like it overlapped with AA in a positive manner. Diego felt somewhat hesitant as he had tried other programs that seemed similar to Wraparound, but the probation officer asked him to try it for 30 days and he agreed. (Diego and Pam now recommend this type of trial method for others.)
Wraparound addresses a wide range of issues faced by families such as school support, family-specific needs, counseling and youth needs, and it is also personalized to the youth’s needs. Through Wraparound, Diego was able to find the right mental health provider, find help for sleep issues, and receive guidance for interacting with parents struggling with substance abuse and addiction. It was important for Diego that the Wraparound approach placed value on a variety of opportunities for a variety of services, and it wasn’t just one person saying, “stay out of trouble and come back and see me next week.”
Wraparound “gives guardians a way to deal with and understand everything that is going on”
For Grammy Pam and Diego, the Wraparound team was influential over the one-year time that they all met. Parent partner Polly and Grammy Pam formed a key relationship that provided a tremendous amount of support for Pam. The benefit of engaging with Polly and the Wraparound team had a “trickle down” impact on everyone in the family where information and support were shared all around. Everyone in the family had the opportunity to be motivated in a constructive way and to be presented with solutions if they took advantage of the services. There were times the family did not have money for groceries, and Wraparound provided food cards. Wham there was no money for Christmas gifts, Wraparound helped out. Pam shared: “As a family, we were supported, and we were not left alone.” This support made all the difference.
The benefit of engaging with Polly and the Wraparound team had a “trickle down” impact on everyone in the family where information and support were shared all around.
“Wraparound has completely changed Diego’s life,” said Pam. Diego has had to deal with big challenges early in his life, including addiction, substance abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, depression, anxiety, physical health issues and deaths in his family. Wraparound has provided a variety of opportunities, tools and coping strategies that have worked well for Diego. Pam has seen positive changes in the perception of his own sense of self-esteem and self-worth that are a big change over the last year.
Diego himself described Wraparound as important to his family and as a tool that has likely helped him to get on the right track toward goals that are important in his life.
Wraparound offers non-judgmental, solution-oriented help right away, says, Grammy Pam, and “if you are a family in crisis, it is completely invaluable”
Pam and Diego advise families who are beginning Wraparound to speak up and be honest about your struggles and challenges without fearing judgement. Wraparound team members are dedicated to helping find solutions to whatever problems a family is facing. Though few youths may be enthusiastic about signing up for Wraparound, according to Pam and Diego, it can be a worthwhile experience if they are willing to really try. Wraparound teams not only offer resources and support but will also help youth create their own goals and realize their hopes and dreams.
Many thanks to Diego and Pam for sharing their experience with Wraparound. We wish both of them well in their journeys ahead!
There's So Much More on Wraparound
Read additional articles from this issue of the Wraparound Connections Newsletter!