Wraparound

The Wraparound Process is an innovative approach that mobilizes the community to help children, youth and families with complex needs, find solutions that will improve the quality of their lives.

This proven approach surrounds high-risk youth with a support team of family members, social workers, public health nurses, faith groups, friends and community members. The “family like” support team is chosen by the client and comprises formal and informal members. The team works together to help the young person/family plan their steps forward and build strategies to overcome barriers to success in order to reach their goals.

Our Initiatives

Skylark is presently involved in four Wraparound initiatives:

1. Child Welfare and Youth Justice Diversion
2. Keeping Families Together

Our Child Welfare and Keeping Families Together initiatives aim to prevent out-of-home placement for youth in families experiencing conflict. They also aim to help children returning from care to reintegrate into their families and community. Skylark collaborates with child welfare agencies (who refer all youth to our program) and other children’s mental health centres.

3. Young Families at Risk of Homelessness

Funded by the City of Toronto, this service helps high-risk young parents (25 years and under) and their children transition from shelters or inappropriate accommodation to stable housing. Using the Wraparound model, housing needs are addressed as well as other areas that can negatively impact securing stable housing (such as addictions, violence in the family and medical concerns to name a few)

4. Quick Wrap Process

Quick Wrap is strength-based and adheres to the key values and principles of the Wraparound model. It is a short-term process, usually up to six months, that focuses on one to three areas of need in a young person/family’s life.

In partnership with other community agencies, Quip Wrap is provided on a fee for service basis for Catholic Children’s Aid’s Supporting Families Connection project.

We were one of the original (seven) communities that brought team-based Wraparound programs to Ontario over a decade ago; Wraparound Toronto is one of the founding members of the Wraparound Association of Ontario.

Our Wraparound Manager is a current seated member of the Wraparound Canada Board of Directors and Co-Director for the Canadian-based Wraparound Training Institute.

Training

Skylark (formerly Oolagen) Wraparound Toronto is the primary Wraparound trainer for the GTA, offering:

• Certified Wraparound Facilitator Training (4 days intensive 12 module training)
• Coaching for new Wraparound facilitators and supervisors
• Best practices in community mobilization and development
• Training and technical assistance for organizations and community members
• Our team trains and coaches in Peel, Halton, Montreal, Manitoba, Vancouver, B.C. Edmonton. Our team has also trained groups in Norway, Hong Kong and Australia

For more information, please email Catherine Blocki-Radeke, or call her at 416-482-0081 x 312.

For more information about Wraparound check out our latest video. To watch the extended version, click here.