Child & Family Teams - Stark County Family Council

Child & Family Teams (CFT):

The goal of the CFT is to bring children and families who are experiencing problems, usually involving a single system, together to create a wraparound plan that identifies, mobilizes, and coordinates an array of community services and supports. The family and their Team then work to implement the plan and monitor their progress. At least one-half of the membership of the Team is comprised of natural informal supports for the child and family. These people have access to informal resources and supports and are committed to a long-term support of the child and family. Begin the process by contacting the WrapAround Coordinator, Sherri McKinney-Frantz, at the Stark County Family Council, 330-455-1225 ext 305.

The actual individualized plan is developed by a wraparound team, who consist of the four to eight people who care and know the youth and family best, including the youth and family. The team is selected by the youth and family and typically has no more than half professionals, and would often include other youth. The individualized plan is child centered and family focused with maximum family involvement, with variation depending on the needs (a.k.a. “challenges”) of the youth and family. The process focuses on strengthening the natural family, extended family and social supports for the youth by involving them in the planning and implementation process. The youth and family are integral parts of the team and must have ownership of the plan. No planning sessions occur without the presence of the youth and family.