Family Wrap Hawaiʻi
For families involved with Child Welfare Services (CWS) the road to stability, reunification, and/or permanency can be a challenging one. If you’re one of those families, or if you know of a family who is, there is hope and help. For struggling families, EPIC ʻOhana’s Family Wrap Hawaiʻi program can truly make a difference.
The goal of Family Wrap Hawaiʻi is to get to know each family, hear their story, learn about their strengths, and identify what the family and children really need to help them get back on their feet. The EPIC team pulls together the family, service providers, and the family’s natural supporters to create a team which then meets every month. This team creates plans to meet the family’s needs, assigns tasks to different team members, and works through barriers that may come up.
Each team has a Wrap Facilitator, an EPIC staff person who helps orient the team to the process. Also on each team is a Wrap Navigator, an EPIC staff person who follows up with everyone between meetings to make sure commitments don’t fall through the cracks. A Parent Partner and Youth Partner are additional team members who give support to the family and youth throughout the Wrap process. The focus is always on moving things forward and working together to make the family’s hopes and dreams become a reality.
If you, or a family you know could benefit from Family Wrap Hawaiʻi, talk to the CWS social worker on the case and let him or her know of your interest. Otherwise, you can also contact EPIC ʻOhana at 808-838-7752 and ask for the Wrap Manager. Currently, Family Wrap Hawaiʻi provides services to families on Oʻahu and the island of Hawaiʻi.
Contact Us
Kristina “Tina” Shibata
Family Wrap & Parent Partner Manager
Email: kshibata@epicohana.org
Phone: (808) 284-0280
Resources
A Healing Journey
Who are we?
FACILITATOR: Orients the family and the youth to the Wrap process and facilitates team meetings and team collaboration
NAVIGATOR: Connects family to community resources and helps team stay on task
PARENT PARTNER: Supports the family in sharing their perspectives, strengths, and challenges. Meets with parents regularly
YOUTH PARTNER: Supports the youth to help them become equipped and empowered to advocate for themselves and their needs
What are we doing in Wrap?
Helping children achieve permanency
Increasing collaboration and transparency among team members
Reducing barriers that prevent forward movement and progress
Addressing underlying needs that drive behaviors
Reducing length of stay in foster care
How does Wrap help families?
Families are empowered as they engage in developing their service plan through a solutions-focused approach
Respectful and collaborative planning to reflect the family’s unique strengths, values, and culture
Eligibility Requirements
If your family is facing challenges and could benefit from extra support, this program may be a good fit.
Who:
Families working towards reunification
Children who are transitioning into permanency (i.e. Legal Guardianship or Adoption) with relatives or non-relatives
Adoptions and/or Legal Guardianships that are deemed “at risk of disruption”
Young people (ages 15-17) who are in need of permanency options and/or preparation for independent living
Families involved in CWS that need increased stability in placement (i.e. finding forever home or reducing number of placements within short period of time), intense focus on child well-being, and/or helping family to develop natural supports and protective factors within the home
Multiple barriers prevent forward movement and productivity of the case. Common examples of such barriers include:
Insufficient progress in service plan by family/youth
Lack of communication and/or collaboration among team members and family
Lack of needed resources and community supports
Lack of natural supports
Required services need tailoring to fit family circumstances and cultural practices
Team needs an out-of-the-box, sustainable approach toward achieving case goals and increasing stability within the family unit
Caregivers and youth are willing to trust Wrap team and address core issues that have been preventing progress.
Team is willing to spend time highlighting functional strengths, uncovering and addressing underlying needs, and contributing time and effort to support forward movement.
Caregivers and youth who would benefit from an intensive team process that requires transparency, full participation, and behavioral changes. Wrap Facilitator, Navigator, and Peer Supports help family to stay accountable to the goals of the CWS service plan.
What:
Where:
Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island active CWS cases only
Why:
Reduce time in CWS
Prevent re-entry into CWS, including generational cycles of entry
Achieve viable, sustainable permanency whether that be reunification, legal guardianship, adoptions, or aging out.
Help build a circle of strong support around the family for ongoing sustainability and well-being.
The 10 Principles of Wraparound
1) Family Voice and Choice
2) Team Based
3) Natural Support
4) Collaboration
5) Community Based
6) Culturally Competent
7) Individualized
8) Strength Based
9) Persistent
10) Outcome Based
Stories
See Family Wrap Hawaiʻi in action through stories and videos that highlight the power of teamwork, family connection, and hope.
