Dougherty County School System Wraparound Services

The Dougherty County School System Wraparound Initiative is a response to the growing need to address non-academic barriers to student learning, by equipping students and families with tools and resources that promote self-sufficiency and academic success.

The vision of the Department of Family & Community Engagement Wraparound Services Program is to create a system of care that assesses and aligns the needs of the community with available resources that support student academic achievement and overall wellness. 

Wraparound services coordinates a system of care that is community based, culturally relevant, individualized, strength based, and family centered. Through the wraparound system of care, the intent is to “wrap” support systems and pertinent resources to positively impact the whole child. Our goal is to meet the students and families right where they are and where they find the easiest access to services. Some wraparound services may not be available at each school. The School Counselors, School Social Workers, and Parent Facilitators are in place to make referrals and work with outside service agencies and organizations on a case by case basis. 

The Dougherty County School System wraparound service model uses the Whole Child Holistic Framework for collaborative action between schools, families, and communities. This 5H Holistic Framework (5HHF) is composed of the 5H protective factors (Health, Hands, Heart, Head, Home). These protective factors holistically address the educational needs and capacities of all students—especially students in poverty—for physical/mental health (Health), safety/security (Hands), social-emotional care (Heart), cognitive development (Head), and family/community support (Home). The 5HHF is used to identify and organize best educational practices and to recommend the community school model to reduce the income-based achievement gap and promote student well-being. 

(Source: Educating Students in Poverty: Building Equity and Capacity with a Holistic Framework and Community School Model -Dan W. Rea, Cordelia D. Zinskie)