Green Wood Coalition is expanding the social service support offered to individuals and families in Northumberland County as it launches a new WrapAround program in Port Hope.

The non-profit charity is recruiting volunteers to be trained as WrapAround facilitators.  The 25 hours of training, scheduled over four sessions in November, will be provided at no cost, thanks to a grant from Northumberland United Way.

WrapAround is a different way of working together to find solutions for people with complex needs.  The program takes an innovative, multi-sector approach that places control in the hands of those being helped.

The facilitator and participant forge a relationship and build a team from among people the person trusts. The team meets monthly to wrap around the participant, seeking solutions to the person’s full spectrum of needs, which could include addiction, mental illness or physical or emotional challenges, along with the poverty, homelessness and isolation that often result.  Over a year to 18 months, as new resources and practices are put in place, the individual becomes ready to transition out.

Facilitators do not have to be professional social workers.  What they need is, a good sense of humour, compassion, a rich set of life experiences and an ability to build consensus and see common ground when others can’t.

Anyone interested in finding out more or signing up for training should contact Jenn McGuire at 905-885-8700 or jenn@greenwoodcoalition.com.