Measuring wraparound fidelity to make quality improvements

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Family Psychology
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Wraparound care coordination has been utilized for ten years, offering individualized family support.
• The county mental health department initiated a quality improvement effort for family mental health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the wraparound care coordination process using the Wraparound Fidelity Index (WFI).
• To identify areas needing improvement within wraparound activities and supports.
• To implement quality enhancements and evaluate their impact over time.

Main Methods:

• Collected Wraparound Fidelity Index (WFI) data over three summers.
• Reported findings to management teams and family organizations.
• Facilitated consensus-based decision-making for improvements, incorporating parent and care coordinator recommendations.

Main Results:

• Identified specific wraparound activities and supports requiring enhancement.
• Implemented targeted quality improvements based on WFI data and stakeholder feedback.
• Demonstrated progress in the wraparound care coordination process over the study period.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified and addressed areas for improvement in wraparound care coordination.
• The process led to enhanced quality of individualized family support services.
• Continuous quality assessment and stakeholder involvement are crucial for effective wraparound services.