Wraparound Services

Introduction

Goals

Eligibility

Introduction

Compadres Wraparound Service provides intensive, community-based services for children with severe emotional, mental, or behavioral issues, and their families. Children belong in families, living in the community, and therefore, Compadres is committed to supporting them in their homes, avoiding institutional intervention when possible. Compadres believes that the strengths of a child and family are the foundation from which positive changes come about. Families, "wrapped" in natural supportive relationships such as extended family, spiritual leaders, and teachers, working with professionals can build successful, self-sufficient lives.

Compadres uses the power of team (Family Support Teams) to bring together key people in a child’s life, in addition to professional service providers, to explore a child and family's needs in 13 "life domain" areas. Teams work together guided by the voice of the child and family in a collaborative identification of need areas across life domains then develops strategies to meet those needs.

We recognize the complexities of transition and the impact that life and development transitions have on children and families. The Compadres Support Teams are committed to working with the family and their strengths to gracefully move through life transitions as they present themselves. Including the celebration of accomplishment that graduation from the program represents.

RCS employs 48 staff in the program. Eleven Master Degree level Facilitators along with nine Family Partners lead Family Support Teams using Wraparound care to support families in leading healthier, happier lives. Family Partners are paid employees who have successfully met the needs and challenges of their own special-needs child. The role of the Family Partner in supporting the voice of the family is unique, for they have truly "been there, done that." Compadres also employs Family Specialists and Behavioral Intervention Specialists who work directly with the children in care. Three licensed Clinical Program Managers oversee "PODS" comprised of Facilitators, Family Partners and Specialists. Additionally the program is support by a Training and Quality Assurance Coordinator, an Administrative Coordinator and a Program Secretary. There is a Resource Coordinator who works in the community assisting families in connecting with resources and supports throughout Santa Clara County

The Compadres Wraparound Program provides intensive community-based Wraparound services for children with severe emotional, mental, or behavioral issues, and their families. These Wraparound services are unconditional, flexible, child and family-focused and inter-agency coordinated. As an initial step, a Family Support Team (FST) is formed, comprised of the people who know the child and family best, including the child and family. The Family Support Team meets regularly to develop an individualized service plan for the child and family. Plans created by the Family Support Team are driven by needs, rather than service-driven, and tend to be extremely creative and unique. Planning and services are comprehensive and address the needs in various life domains, and work collaboratively with other services such as Therapeutic Behavioral Services, Medication Support, and Outpatient Therapy. Existing services may be blended and reshaped to fit the unique needs, and the team has the ability to create individualized services and resources.

Some of the goals Compadres set for the families and children are:

• Children and families will live in safe and stable homes
• Fewer children will have to live away from a family home environment
• Children who do have to live away from a home environment will have a shorter stay before coming home
• Families and children will have more success and feel better about the plans that they develop
• Families will become more aware of and involved in the services provided in their community
• Relationships will be built between community members who work together on the plans
• The Compadres Family Support Team will meet less and less over time as the family begins to carry out the plan by themselves

Compadres brings together the families and those who know them best for a Family Support Team meeting. Together they set goals and make a plan for the future. A customized plan called, the Compadres Family Support Plan, is developed by the entire Compadres team. The plan wraps around the family and child, considering different family needs, such as home life, rules, communication, family and community involvement, emotional/psychological support, educational/vocational opportunities, medical/legal options, cultural/spiritual activities, and crisis respite, to attain their goals.

Some examples of areas addressed in a Compadres Family Support Plan:

• Tutoring
• Respite / short term rest
• Help with school issues break away from each other
• Help getting support from other services
• Transportation
• Family rules
• Help with drug & alcohol
• Sports programs
• Special medical needs
• Counseling
• Assistance with court
• Job support issues
• In-home assistance
• Basic living skills
• A Place to Live
• Recreational activities

Who is eligible for Compadres?

Workers from the Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health or the Juvenile Probation Department refer children with severe emotional and/or behavioral problems, and their families, who live in Santa Clara County, and need wraparound services. All referrals are reviewed and approved by the Resources and Intensive Services Committee (RISC) before being assigned to the Compadres Program.