From System Compliance to Real Transformation
When Gisella Arias-Olson first met the new family on her caseload, hope was in short supply.
A single mother and her adolescent daughter had been in services for some time. Things weren’t getting better, and everyone involved, including the care team, was starting to doubt whether things ever would. A transition meeting was held. There were questions about what else to try. And someone finally suggested what felt like a last resort: “Let’s try wraparound.”
Gisella had a different lens. “Let’s try motivational interviewing,” she thought. “Let’s bring wraparound and motivational interviewing together and see what happens.”
A Year Later:
- The daughter was no longer failing – she was top of her class.
- She was volunteering in an elementary after-school program.
- The mother, once homeless, had found stable employment and was planning to return to school.
What made the difference? According to Gisella, it wasn’t magic. It was mindset.
It was MiiWrap.
From Crisis to Discovery
In a crisis, families often feel isolated, overwhelmed, and powerless. They can’t always see the resources and strengths they do have. Gisella describes motivational interviewing as the flashlight that helps families find what’s already inside them: a way to surface their own “pepitas de oro” (little gold nuggets).
“All families have their own strengths and supports,” she says. “Even if they can’t see it in a crisis.”
That’s where MiiWrap comes in. It combines the structure of High-Fidelity Wraparound with the spirit and strategy of motivational interviewing, helping families lead the process, not just receive services.
Systems Say “Compliance.” MiiWrap Says “What Works for This Family?”
In another case, a youth’s school attendance was flagged as the key problem. But despite everyone’s best efforts, she just wasn’t engaging. Instead of doubling down on traditional expectations, Gisella’s team stepped back and asked:
“What’s really needed here?”
They realized the youth already had a rich social life within her large extended family. Maybe in-person attendance wasn’t the only route to growth. With support from the school, they pivoted to a homebound learning plan.
The result? The youth began completing her coursework on time – motivated, not forced.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
For Gisella, MiiWrap is not just a set of tools. It’s a philosophy:
- Build from strengths.
- Follow the family’s lead.
- Stay curious. Stay flexible.
- Let values guide the process, not just checklists.
“It’s a whole team with the same mindset,” she says. “Crisis can be an opportunity to grow. Let’s find the gold.”
Why This Matters for Leaders
If your team is feeling stuck, watching families cycle in and out, or struggling to make lasting impact, this story offers a powerful reminder:
The solution isn’t more compliance. It’s more humanity.
MiiWrap equips your team to deliver high-fidelity Wraparound in a way that is:
- Strengths-based
- Client-directed
- Trauma-responsive
- And above all, effective.
It’s not just a better method. It’s a better mindset.
Ready to learn how MiiWrap could help your team find the gold?