The Wraparound Foundations book and Workbooks are a flexible coaching and training program that can be taught in a variety of ways to fit your agency and the individual learning styles of staff. The content is divided into 30 learning sections that can be taught as a discreet set of lessons via individual or small group training, using multiple approaches to engage students with different learning styles.

Types of Training

• Primary Training
• Training with Group Coaching
• Self-Paced Style
• Training Combinations

The Wraparound Foundations book is formatted to be trained in four days of classroom style group training, with additional homework activities that are done before, during and following the training.

Primary Training Suggestions & Options

• Have staff do the preparatory reading and workbook activities on the history and overview prior to the first day of training.
• Schedule the trainings in 1/2- to 2-day "chunks" to total the four days of training.
• Schedule shadowing/supplemental activities to be completed in-between training days.

Training with Group Coaching

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The 30 sections can be taught and coached in a combination fashion. The expectations of most agencies are that new staff will be working with some families in a limited role after a couple of weeks, and that they will have full case loads in 6 to 8 weeks.

Adult learning theories say that people need an overview understanding to the whole process before they can most benefit from specific training suggestions. For this reason, a coach may have staff read background materials and sections from the Wraparound Foundations book, watch the entire DVD series (all 7 core meetings of wraparound), and have overview level discussions and group coaching.

• Do the group coaching for small groups of new staff learning the materials.
• Have experienced staff co-train the group coaching sessions.
• Always have the staff bring their Wraparound Foundations book and workbooks to the group coaching.
• Always have the staff read the appropriate materials from the Wraparound Foundations book prior to the group coaching.
• Supplement the exercises in the Workbooks with spontaneous activities if the staff are struggling with the action steps.
• Tailor the exercises to specific challenging wraparound family examples.
• Show the appropriate DVD clip and follow with a discussion of the matching VVDB Action Steps, and how they might be individualized for a specific family.

Self-Paced Style

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In this learning mode, staff can be assigned to read the text for each section, view the appropriate DVD scenes, and complete their workbook section-by-section. Each of the activities and workbook sections would be reviewed with the trainer/coach as the section is completed (and trainer/coaches would be available to assist during each of the sections). This mode of teaching fits a staff person with a solitary learning style.

• Assign staff to complete workbook sections, exercises, and supplemental activities, in a self-paced learning mode. Many staff will have experience with this learning mode as it is used extensively in college. Combine self-paced learning with group processing of core lessons.
• Assign new staff to complete book and Workbook sections, and go over each with individual coaching and supervision.
• Some staff who are social learners may struggle with text book style learning.
• Be flexible on this point, and as needed, ask them to do at least some of the learning in a peer-to-peer mode.

Peer-to-Peer Coaching

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In this learning mode, the coach would assign staff to work in pairs or some other appropriate grouping, and assign them to work together to go over book sections and complete workbook assignments. Each of the activities and workbook sections would be reviewed with the trainer/coach as the section is completed (and trainer/coaches would be available to assist during each of the sections). This mode of teaching fits a staff person with a more social learning style.

• Depending on staff composition and strengths, assign pairs of new staff to partner together, or assign less experienced staff with a more experienced partner.
• Stage a friendly competition between the staff pairs, asking them to come up with skits to illustrate core action steps from a book section, and present them at staff meetings.
• Pair a Wraparound Facilitator and a Family Support Partner, and ask them to teach each other specific aspects of each job.

Training Combinations

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Combinations of group coaching, self-paced, and peer-to-peer styles. The coach can choose to combine methods as needed, always considering staff learning styles.

• Have staff do the preparatory reading and workbook activities on the history and overview prior to the first day of training.
• Schedule the first 8 to 10 sections to be completed in an "overview" training that is taught in a day, or over a couple of days. For individuals or very small groups this might mean more individualized instruction.
• Schedule the remainder of the activities in the workbook to be completed as single or multiple sections using the written materials, and discussions with experienced staff over the next 4 to 6 weeks.