Randomized Control Trial Findings of a Wraparound Program for Dually Involved Youth

Abstract

Wraparound care coordination for youth with serious emotional and behavioral challenges has been implemented in every state and in many child-serving contexts, but evidence from rigorous effectiveness studies is scarce. We conducted a 20-month longitudinal randomized control trial of a pilot Wraparound program for youth in foster care and involved in the juvenile justice system ( n = 24), comparing outcomes with youth receiving community “treatment as usual” (TAU; n = 23). Youth in both groups experienced significantly improved outcomes, including fewer arrests and greater residential stability. Wraparound youth were less likely to be rearrested (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.17, 2.04]), and survival analysis found they went longer before doing so than TAU youth. Wraparound youth were also more likely to be educationally on track than TAU youth by the end of the study (OR = 4.09, 95% CI = [1.89, 18.72]). Although these findings were nonsignificant at p < .05 due to small sample sizes, effect sizes were medium to large, and no such trends were found for the TAU group. Implications for Wraparound’s implementation and effectiveness, as well as the strengths and limitations of conducting a randomized control trial in “real-world” systems, are discussed.

Effects of Community-Based Wraparound Services on Child and Caregiver Outcomes Following Child Protective Service Involvement

“…A version of wraparound supports currently exists in every state (Coldiron et al, 2019), yet the evidence for its effectiveness is limited among CPS-involved households. Moreover, research has consistently pointed to significant concerns related to program fidelity.…”

Promising Services for Justice-Involved Youth: A Scoping Review with Implications for the Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act

“…A fifth study also focused on youth involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems; the authors conducted an RCT of wraparound carecoordinating intervention (Coldiron et al, 2019). Youth in the treatment group were assigned a care coordinator who met with the youth to develop a treatment plan, coordinate with the various community providers, and assist in implementing the plan.…”

Revisiting ecological systems theory: Practice implications for juvenile justice youth.

“…Applications of the bioecological model are central in indicated interventions frequently used by the JJ system: Multisystemic Therapy (MST; Henggeler et al, 1986) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT; Alexander & Parsons, 1982). Other intervention approaches (e.g., wraparound services) focus primarily on the stabilizing ecological factors of the child and their family, such as the home-life (Carney & Buttell, 2003; Coldiron et al, 2019). These services have shown to impact factors related to juvenile recidivism, including aggression, police contact, or externalizing behaviors (e.g., school suspensions and running away; Carney & Buttell, 2003).…”