Wraparound grew out of a nationwide effort in the 1970s to reform children's mental health services in order to create flexibility, sensitivity and effectively serve those youth and families in need. Wraparound is both an approach and a specific set of services, strategies and supports. Wraparound often occurs in the community, where services are individualized to meet children's and families' needs. 

Parents and caregivers are included in every stage of the process and the approach must be culturally and linguistically competent to include but not limited to: sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, geographical, and socioeconomic factors. The inclusion of formal supports such as therapists and care coordinators along with informal and natural supports including faith leaders and grandparents make Wraparound totally unique and individualized. Wraparound services must be delivered on an unconditional basis where the nature of support changes to meet changes in families and their situations. Also, wraparound involves the measurement of child and family outcomes to determine the effectiveness of services to ensure the process is working appropriately for individual youth and families. 

Outcomes are also important at the systems-level to ensure appropriate families are being served. New Jersey implemented Wraparound in 1999 in Burlington County through a federal grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration, Child and Family Branch. This was the first local system of care which included the Care Management Organization, Youth Partnership, Mobile Response Stabilization Services and the Family Support Organization. Marlene Penn was the first Executive Director of the Burlington County Family Support Organization. Marlene, a strong family leader, led system reform and System of Care state-wide expansion in New Jersey. She also has been an active member of the National Wraparound Initiative. As Marlene retires in June, we wish her and the Penn family continued success and happiness. 

Learn more about what's happening with Wraparound nationally, the national movement Marlene has helped to develop through her energy, passion and belief in children and families across the country.

Learn more about Wraparound including three interesting stories about engaging family partners and this overview of the Wraparound system.

May is Children's Mental Health Awareness Month and many of New Jersey's Family Support Organizations are sponsoring events to help raise awareness and answer families' questions on the subject:

Essex County

A Cultural Perspective – Children’s Mental Health Awareness Conference

May 5, 2011 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Metropolitan Baptist Church, B.F. Johnson Community Center 149 Springfield Ave, Newark, NJ 07103. Download flyer for more details.

Atlantic and Cape May County

• May 4th- Learn about Mental and Emotional Recovery! Parent/caregiver Support Group
• May 7th- Youth Partnership MH Walk on the Northfield Bike Path, Northfield New Jersey
• May 18th- Art Discovery & Relaxation workshop.

Cumberland, Glouocester, and Salem Counties

Download flyer for more details.

Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren, Morris, Sussex Counties

Download flyer for more details.

By Dennis Thompson, Jr.
Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, M.D.

For people who are struggling with depression, support groups can be a terrific source of help and inspiration for a person battling depression. "People who are living with these illnesses can feel very isolated," says Ingrid Deetz, director of chapter relations for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. "Support groups are a safe place where you know other people have experienced similar situations."

Support groups are not the same as group therapy. In group therapy, a trained therapist guides the discussion between a limited number of people, and individuals are encouraged to both share their feelings and provide feedback to the other members, says Deetz. In contrast, support group meetings often are led by someone who has struggled with depression. The meetings cover a variety of topics important to the members. You won't receive psychotherapy, but you might gain valuable insight from someone facing similar situations.

Some of the benefits you can gain from a depression support group include:

Motivation - "People say that support groups motivate them to follow their treatment plan," says Deetz. "They see that people can and do get better."

Inspiration - Support groups help people with depression understand that mood disorders don't define them. These groups show members that they can still do what theywant in life.

Education - If someone is having trouble deciding whether to tell her employer about her depression, she can talk with other people at the support group and get advice. Support group members can learn from everyone else.

Understanding - People attending a support group know where everyone else is coming from. A good support group promotes acceptance and understanding, allowing people to feel comfortable and secure.

Finding Local Support Groups

Depression is a common mood disorder — 24 percent of women and 15 percent of men will experience some form of the condition at some point in their life. Many of them seek support groups. To find depression support groups in your area, you can contact one of the following:

National organizations - The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and the National Alliance on Mental Illness are just two organizations that maintain referral services both online and by phone.

State mental health agency - Every U.S. state, including New Jersey, has an agency or department designated to address depression and other mental health issues. These groups maintain lists of support groups and can direct you to one in your area.

Therapist or physician - Many mental health practitioners have lists of support groups available to their patients.  If you live in a rural or remote area and aren't near any support groups, you may want to consider joining an online support group. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alli-ance offers them through its Web site. Although it may seem odd that people dealing with feelings of isolation would connect over the Web, research shows that online support groups do provide substantial help to people with depression.

Choosing the Right Group

Keep in mind that the first depression support group you find may not be right for you. "All support groups are different," says Deetz. "There's no one-size-fits-all [group]."  Don't be dissuaded by an awkward first meeting — attend a few meetings to get a good feel for the group and see if you feel comfortable. "We generally recommend a person attend a support group three to five times to see if it's a good fit for them," Deetz says. If the support group isn't a good match, try another one.

When scouting for the perfect support group, watch out for red flags and avoid groups that:

• Focus on negative emotions and seem designed to stir up bad feelings
• Offer fast results and sure-fire cures
• Attempt to pressure you away from your therapist or current treatment plan
• Require you to share intimate or sensitive information
• Demand expensive payments or require you to purchase certain products

Your battle against depression can feel less lonely and more manageable with the right support group promoting your recovery.

By Pamela Wilson

It is often difficult to find a good local pediatrician or clinic for a child with a disability, chronic health condition, or other special needs.

Parents of newly diagnosed babies may be asking about the implications of their child's specific diagnosis from a doctor who heard only a few minutes mention of it during medical school and has had less actual experience with patients.

Even the strongest advocate-parent may not realize the importance of finding credible resources to share with their doctor so that a well trained physician can become an actual expert on the topic. For parents whose children have a condition or health problem that is new to the family, it may be helpful to seek out an adult with the same diagnosis to learn more about their children's healthcare needs.

Knowing what health care procedures to avoid as well as what to seek can sometimes make all the difference. Another serious consideration is how comfortably staff and doctors relate to the child during medical visits, exams and discussions.

When we take our children in to their medical appointments, we are teaching them how to be lifelong advocates for themselves. Staff who do not treat babies and children with respect, consideration and kindness teach them to expect very little from alternate caregivers.

Like other adults who will meet and get to know your children, medical professionals can take cues from a parent. It's often helpful if you take the time to explain what is going on, apologize or use gentle humor to ease or distract them from the stressful part of the examination, and include them when you are talking with their doctor.

Only one in ten doctors graduate in the top ten percent of their class. It could be that it is easier and of greater benefit to your child to establish a relationship with a good doctor and provide them with up to date information about your child's condition than to trust in a medical professional who seems to have the reputation of having 'many patients' with your child's condition.

A doctor who knows your child as an individual is much more likely to attribute uncharacteristic behaviors or other symptoms to an additional developing medical condition. Families of children who do have or will develop a dual diagnosis need medical professionals who will listen to their concerns and observations. That in itself can save a child's life.

Following all the recommendations that healthcare advocates advise for mainstream patients works well for children with disabilities. Any 'red flag' that they mention can be doubly important to notice in medical staff for a child with special needs.

It's well worth the trouble to find a great doctor or clinic so that our children get adequate care from the start and medical staff can build a relationship with each child that will lead to greater health benefits as they grow up.