The Houston Independent School District plans to dissolve its Wraparound Services Department, which will result in the removal of all remaining wraparound resource specialists. The district intends to reallocate resources to support vulnerable students. Deputy Chief of Family and Community Partnerships Najah Callander said the decision was made "to maximize scarce resources," as reported by Houston Chronicle.
Houston Independent School District officials announced that essential student and family services will continue following recent staffing changes. Support roles previously handled by wraparound specialists will now be managed by existing campus staff, including nurses, office managers, counselors, at-risk coordinators, and parent liaisons. "While we recognize that this is a significant change, we want to reassure you that this shift in how we deliver services will create a more effective and more complete continuum of care for the students and families who need it most," Callander said, according to KHOU.
Houston Independent School District is restructuring its student support services, shifting from the previous wraparound model to an expanded Sunrise Center approach. The district stated, "Over time, we’ve found that while wraparound specialists did important work in identifying student needs, the consistent gaps in service delivery made it impossible to ensure those needs were met." As part of the changes, Houston Independent School District will open an eighth Sunrise Center to provide long-term social services, with extended hours and staffing. These centers will work alongside New Education System campuses to offer coordinated support. Houston Independent School District noted, "We are realigning our systems to ensure that students receive the support they need, with a focus on coordination and integration that meets the realities of today’s HISD," as mentioned by Houston Chronicle. Resources such as uniforms and school supplies will remain available at all campuses through the Student Assistance Form. Organizations interested in providing services can contact John Meade, Director of Community Partnerships.
