High Fidelity Wraparound Evaluations
High Fidelity Wraparound Evaluations
Youth and emerging adults in Georgia with severe emotional disturbance receive intensive care coordination, education, and skill-building services in their communities through High Fidelity Wraparound programs. High Fidelity Wraparound, funded by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), addresses the complex emotional needs of clients through integrated, individualized plans developed and facilitated by care management team members, in coordination with youth, families, community supports, and other child-serving agencies. To qualify for wraparound services, youth and emerging adults (aged 6 to 21 years) must have a primary mental health diagnosis that results in an institutional level of care admission or be considered at imminent risk of out-of-home placement.
The Center of Excellence for Children’s Behavioral Health at the Georgia Health Policy Center produces periodic fidelity reports, annual evaluation reports, and issue briefs to inform DBHDD leadership and other stakeholders about the effectiveness of the programs targeting youth in need of “deeper end” mental health services in Georgia. The evaluation assesses the care management entities’ fidelity to the wraparound model and the program’s effect on children’s stability, youth functioning, educational success, and family empowerment. In addition, the Center of Excellence provides ongoing feedback to DBHDD and the care management entities on data related to the process of implementing the wraparound approach for continuous quality improvement. The Center of Excellence is also facilitating and evaluating a pilot project with DBHDD and the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Lookout Mountain and Viewpoint Health care management entities to examine access to and the impact of High Fidelity Wraparound services on DJJ recidivism, youth health outcomes, and state cost-savings for youth with severe emotional disturbance transitioning from DJJ secure facilities to the community.