One of the core principles in effective high fidelity wraparound care is the continuing involvement of family in a way that identifies collective goals and objectives and ways all surrounding the young person can assist – and be assisted with – mental health and addiction recovery. The service coordination process should continue providing access to existing services and supports, both formal and informal, and when appropriate propose new services, supports, and/or strategies to be added in order to address unmet needs.
The organizations and sites below provide resources to families of youth who are involved in wraparound services.
The Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA)
http://www.fredla.org/
FREDLA’s mission is to empower and strengthen executive leaders of family-run organizations focused on the well-being of children and youth with mental health, emotional or behavioral challenges and their families. The Family Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA) serves as the national representative and advocate for family-run organizations and their executive directors, and supports effective stewardship of family-run organizations. FREDLA informs its members on current and emerging policy issues, provides education on research and other program findings and best practices, provides or facilitates professional development opportunities and other consultation and technical assistance, collaborate with stakeholders and facilitates peer-to-peer sharing across member family-run organizations.
National Federation for Children’s Mental Health
http://www.ffcmh.org/
The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is a national family-run organization linking more than 120 chapters a
nd state organizations focused on the issues of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs and their families. It was conceived in Arlington, Virginia in February, 1989 by a group of 18 people determined to make a difference in the way the system works. Members of the National Federation come from all walks of life. Emotional, behavioral or mental health needs cut across all income, educational, geographical, racial, ethnic, and religious groups. They are found among single parents and two-parent families and in birth, adoptive, and foster families. The National Federation works to develop and implement policies, legislation, funding mechanisms, and service systems that utilize the strengths of families. Its emphasis on advocacy offers families a voice in the formation of national policy, services and supports for children with mental health needs and their families.
The National Directory of Family-Run & Youth-Guided Organizations for Children’s Behavioral Health
http://familyorgdirectory.fmhi.usf.edu/index.cfm
The directory lists family-run and youth-guided organizations and support groups throughout the United States, US Territories and Tribal Nations. You can search our database to find organizations across the country run by families or youth consumers that are working to support families who have children and adolescents with behavioral health challenges and to improve behavioral health services and supports. Behavioral health services include mental health and substance abuse services. The Directory provides contact information for family and youth organizations and support groups seeking to connect with other family and youth organizations; assists families and youth in locating other organizations’ websites; helps families, system of care planners, and practitioners to identify existing family-run and youth-guided organizations and the types of services and supports provided; and, provides the latest and most accurate information on family-run and youth-guided organizations whose focus is on children’s behavioral health issues
Quick Guide for Self-Assessment for Family- Run Organizations in Systems of Care
http://rtckids.fmhi.usf.edu/rtcpubs/FamExp/Familyquickguide.pdf
The Quick Guide is for use by family-run organizations. The guide is divided into nine sections addressing important elements of family-run organization development and sustainability. Each section represents several components or characteristics of effective family-run organizations in a system of care. A brief description of the element and its components and characteristics is presented at the beginning of each section. The description is followed by exercises designed to help you, as a family-run organization representative or team, begin your self-assessment and planning in that area.