Columbia River Wraparound Evaluation
Project Abstract:
Columbia River Wraparound is a group of family, youth, community leaders and agencies that provide services to children with serious emotional and behavioral disturbances and their families. The project is funded through the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Service Administration within the US Department of Health and Human Services. The main goal of the project is to develop, implement, and evaluate a Systems of Care (SOC) that will provide comprehensive services to children and families. The project encompasses a four-county region in Eastern Oregon with a total population of 55,000. Two counties are rural and two are considered frontier with populations under 2,000. An estimated 175 children and their families will be served annually.
Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL), the local mental health agency, acts as the lead agency for the project’s service and evaluation components. The Regional Research Institute for Human Services at Portland State University contracts with MCCFL to provide technical assistance and support to The Evaluation of the Columbia River Wraparound System of Care.
Using a Family Decision Support Model, Child and Family Teams provide wrap-around services to the children and families in accordance with the following principles:
- The service system must be youth and family centered
- It must be built on strengths and competencies of the participants,
- Families are equal partners and decision makers,
- Services respect and build on cultural differences,
- Services are community based and offered in the least restrictive settings, and
- Providers are accountable through evaluation of outcomes
Young children, school age children and transition age youth are included for expanded services through Columbia River Wraparound. Services include outreach, early identification and intervention, school and home based services, crisis respite, intensive day treatment and services to children with co-occurring disorders (mental health/addictions). Transition services include vocational, housing and independent living. Family Coordinators provide care management services.
