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September 4, 2008

Improving Wraparound Services in PA

Last year the PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) started work to improve Wraparound services. Wraparound services were initially a very small and creative part of the children’s mental health system.  Over the past 15 years, these services have become a major portion of the publicly funded services for children and adolescents with behavioral health needs. With this growth came a challenge to make sure that the services were of high quality and benefiting those being served.

OMHSAS has partnered with the National Wraparound Initiative to bring reforms to Pennsylvania. The first step was the creation of the Youth and Family Institute. This institute is responsible for training providers and families on “High Fidelity Wraparound” and the Youth and Family Team process.  Information on this work is on the OMHSAS stakeholder Web site www.parecovery.org, under Statewide/Initiatives.

The website reports on the first counties (Early Implementers) – Allegheny, Chester, Erie, Fayette, Lehigh and Montgomery – to receive training. It also has resources on “High-Fidelity Wraparound”.  If you are interested in improving Wraparound, or other children’s services in your county, please contact your county Children’s Mental Health/Child and Adolescent Service System Coordinator.