Perceptions of Family Environment and Wraparound Processes: Associations with Age and Implications for Serving Transitioning Youth in Systems of Care

Addressing the unique needs of youth transitioning to adulthood has long been viewed as a priority in implementation of systems
of care (SOCs) and wraparound. Developmental research and “practice-based evidence” suggest that there are differences between
transitioning youth and their younger peers in family environment and wraparound team processes. Although these differences
are thought to have significant implications for wraparound practice, few studies have examined them empirically. The present
research involves two studies examining differences across several age cohorts (i.e., 10–12, 13, 14, 15, 16–17 year-olds)
ranging from early adolescent to transitioning youth in: (1) caregiver perceptions of role-related strain and family environment
quality, and (2) facilitator, caregiver, and youth perceptions of wraparound processes. In Study #1, older age was associated
with higher levels of caregiver strain. In Study #2, age was associated with differences between youth and other team members’
perceptions of wraparound processes, such that older youth perceived teams as less cohesive than others on their teams. These
findings suggest that transitioning youth and their families merit special consideration in wraparound implementation and
underscore the importance of considering the perceptions of transitioning youth in system change and practice improvement
efforts (192 words).