Parenting & Relationships, Social Work 

In this book, authors Karl W. Dennis and Ira S. Lourie lay out their philosophy of “wraparound” service delivery through a series of case studies from Dennis’s Chicago service agency, Kaleidoscope. The wraparound services that the authors describe are strengths-based, unconditional, family-centered, and individually tailored to the needs of the children and families who receive them. The authors believe strongly that families know what is best for themselves, and they try to place children with their original families whenever possible, providing whatever services they need in order to keep them there. Throughout the anecdotes presented, Kaleidoscope’s commitment to its principles and to the young people placed into its care are tested and reaffirmed, as the authors guide the reader by example through issues such as cultural competence, interagency cooperation, and cost-effectiveness.