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IN THIS ISSUE Is Wraparound Home-Based? President's Message Membership Update 2000 Annual Conference News from the NAFBS Day in the Life of! President's Award

IS WRAPAROUND HOME-BASED?

By: Ken Visser

The Wraparound concept is becoming more common in the State of Michigan. Many of our members are being asked to sit on Wraparound teams and hold Wraparound style meetings with the families we work with. In discussing this trend at our March 10, 2000 board meeting, one member noted that not all Wraparound coordinators see themselves as home-based workers . Hence the question "Is Wraparound Home-Based?"

As a former state employee who had responsibility for FIA Wraparound contracts and an office which sponsored several Wraparound trainings, my answer is "well of course, Wraparound is home-based." The confusion stems at least in part from two issues. The first being the entrenched perspective of some people providing Wraparound coordination, and the second being that Wraparound is a philosophy rather than a program.

Prior to implementing Families First in Michigan, I had the opportunity of sitting on the Governor's Task Force on Family Preservation. At the conclusion of more than a year's worth of meetings, one committee member suggested that what we really needed was a more specialized institution where children could be better diagnosed so that we could select the most appropriate institutional placement. This clearly demonstrates that from the perspective of persons who have worked most of their career in an institution, there is always an institutional solution.

As I looked through The Wraparound Process Orientation Manual. I found very little reference specifically to home-based service. But, I did find repeated references to community based, family centered service and Strength-based philosophies and the manual specifically indicates that meetings should be held, in a place that the client family is most comfortable with. Commitment to these philosophies is clearly in line with the Home-based Mission.

Wraparound requires Family Teams. The make-up of these Teams is to be no more than 49% professional staff. It is hard to imagine, if families and other non-professionals are "calling the shots" that the services are will be anything other than home-based.

Wraparound Contracts indicate the service is to be made available to families who are at risk of having a child removed or who have a child removed and the immediate plan is for reunification. If the focus is on family preservation or on family reunification, the service is appropriately home-based. The bottom line is that Wraparound Coordinators and other support staff would be a welcome addition to the Michigan Home-Based Family Services Association. It is our role as home-based counselors and members of the MHBFSA to encourage Wraparound programs to support families by offering home-based services and perhaps you could encourage Wraparound staff to join the Michigan Home-Based Family Service Association.

The word is out: Family Reunification Services (and home-based services) works!!

In 1992, Judson Center, OaklandCatholic Social Services and Highfields (all three agencies are MHBFSA members) were selected to pilot Family Reunification Services. Family Reunification Services was an intensive home-based treatment model designed to allow early return of children to their families after being in an and out-of home placement.Throughout the three year period that the service was offered, hundreds of families participated in the program. The Family Independence Agency and the Skillman Foundation commissioned University Associates to complete extensive evaluative research of this program. Many areas were evaluated, and ultimately, it was determined that the FRS model effectively assisted with the reintegration of children and youth back to their homes after placement.

Children returning from foster care placement made successful transitions back to their homes as a result of the program. Delinquents returning from residential care were also positively impacted. Family Reunification Services was very cost effective and saved the State hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing the need for long term foster care or residential placement.

Family Reunification Services were provided on either four or eight months increments (selected randomly). Families received an average of 4-6 hours of intensive home-based counseling each week, participated in groups, resource development and ongoing support.

On May 4, 2000, Lt. Governor Posthumus held a press conference where the successes of this program were officially declared. In addition to the press, FIA Administrators, service providers, and most importantly, a family that participated in the program were all in attendance.

The effectiveness of Family Reunification Services may make it possible to replicate it on a national scale as well as institute it into the State's overall continuum of family preservation services (e.g., Families First, Families Together/Building Solutions).

Outcomes like those that reflected the successes of this program once again reinforced the power of the home-based treatment approach that we all subscribe to. Throughout the 90's, Michigan made great strides in instituting home-based services as a primary approach for many child welfare and mental health services. In many ways home-based service has become the rule rather than the exception. It was refreshing to see this validated once again.

Look for a report on Family Reunification Services at our annual conference in October.

The Membership Committee is pleased with the response to our Y2K Membership Drive. To date we have heard from 180 individuals and agencies . This total represents several new members. It is exciting to see new faces with fresh ideas becoming a part of this Association. We look forward to hearing from you. If you know someone who has not renewed their membership, it is not to late to become a part of the MHBFSA. Memberships, beginning this year run from January to December. Your membership allows reduced fees to MHBFSA trainings and to the Annual Conference.

A new feature has been added to the MHBFSA Web page. A Bulletin Board has been made available on the website to chat with other MHBFSA members about such things as intervention strategies, employment openings, success stories, safety tips, or whatever would be helpful with your home-based practice.

When you post a message on the Bulletin Board, you will receive an email from the people who respond to your question or comments (if desired). Give it a try! It's easy. Follow these steps and you will be ready to use the MHBFSA Bulletin Board.

1. Go to http://www.mihomebased.com
2. Look for the title "MHBFSA Message Board" and click on it.
3. You should now see the "Coolboard.com" webpage.
4. Look for the words "New Account" on the right side of the screen and
click on it.
5. Enter the requested information then click on "create account."

Notice! You will need to be emailed by Coolboard.com to verify your information before your account is activated. Once this is done, you will be ready to read and respond to posted messages on the Message Board. If you have any problems or questions, feel free to email the Membership Committee Chair at jgreshak @bethany.org.

The MHBFSA Annual Conference 2000 will be on October 4, 5, and 6th at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn. The national presenters at this year's conference will be Kenneth V. Hardy addressing "Prevention and Treatment with At-risk Adolescents", Lydia Walker addressing "Domestic Violence", and Scott Miller addressing the "Strength-Based Model". The theme for this year's conference is "Changing Systems, Changing Needs".In addition to these presenters, MHBFSA is searching for local presenters to discuss practice-based topics. If you (or someone you know) are interested in presenting at this year's Annual Conference, please complete the enclosed form and return by July 14, 2000 to: Training Committee, ATTN: LYNNE ALEXANDER, 5690 Cecil, Detroit, MI 48210.

The National Association for Family-Based Services, of which the MHBFSA is a member, is holding it's 14th Annual conference at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans this year. The conference runs November 29th through December 2cd. Besides keynote speakers, seminars will be offered by service providers across the country. Topic will be in the areas of practice, family partners, policy, training, and research.

This national convention allows home-based workers from across the country to come together to share ideas and learn from some of the leading authorities on home-based family services. The MHBFSA sends a board member to the conference yearly to insure the lines of communication remain open and our members are kept informed of the latest information. If you would like more information on the National Association you can find them on the Web at: www.nafbs.org

After years of working with youth who had been placed in foster or residential care, it was rather exciting to work with families in their homes. I have found all families and their individual members have strengths that can be used to assist them in working on the dynamics which contributed to the difficulties they face. The resulting contact with police, court, FIA, psychiatric hospitals, out-of-home placements, and conflict within the community and/or schools is intimidating as well as overwhelming.

One particular family; mother, step-father, five children, had a poor reputation in the community due to the apparent lack of parental control and frequent misbehavior at school and the neighborhood. It was extremely stressful for the parents to deal with the problems they encountered daily within the home. The public perception only added further discouragement. The home-based program was requested by the family after trying "anything and everything" offered through the legal and mental health system, short of out-of-home placements.

During the first family meeting as each member shared their goals, a common theme of wanting "to get along with each other better" was evident. Prior to the meeting, basic rules for family discussion were identified by the children such as "no put-downs...no yelling...don't interrupt...listen..., etc."

Verbal and physical aggression was typical between the children. One intervention centered around doing activities (they particularly liked to play baseball) in which problem solving and anger management skills were presented and implemented. Most activities occurred in the yard (neighborhood friends would also participate), while public settings were visited based on their progress at home and during previous outings. The parents were encouraged to increase their use of effective praise when members used identified skills and a calm voice when correction or consequences was necessary. Charts were prepared for the younger three children, while the two teens were to use self (& parental) reports to track progress. Various incentives were used for individual and family effort. Members gave feedback (focused on the positive) during subsequent "family meetings". Weekly reports indicated growth in areas of increased obedience, fewer arguments, greater family accountability, and personal confidence or improved self-esteem. And you know what!? The community noticed a difference too!

As a Family Specialist, the opportunity to teach families life skills that will help them make necessary changes is productive and rewarding. The positive impact upon the various systems is also evident (agencies/schools see other ways of effecting change).


Jim Hulbert, BSW, is a Family Specialist with Northern Family Intervention Services, Inc. (Office in Gaylord) which contracts primarily with CMH and AFIA's (northern 22 counties). The caseloads are small with intense involvement in the home, school, community for 8-12 weeks.

Articles are being sought for upcoming issues of Practice. Submissions of1-3 doubled spaced pages will be welcomed. Please share your experience with other home-based workers by faxing article to: