Innovation Archives - Grafton

The Power of the Parent

News — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 22:00:46 +0000

By Jessica Judd, Grafton Adult Services Community Engagement Program Manager Parents are fixers. It’s what we do. If something isn’t going right for our children, we take the bull by the horns and don’t let go until the problem is solved. Back in 2004, a passionate group of parents recognized that there was a real need […]

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Boiling Down to Job Prep

Jeremy Ulderich, Director of Education Consultation and Development — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 14:30:23 +0000

As my own children have entered middle school and late elementary school, I find myself analyzing the nature of their schoolwork in terms of job preparation. It typically begins with an innocuous question like ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ Now, I realize my 11 year old son will likely change this answer a hundred times before entering the work force, but as an inquisitive father, I ask. The brief conversation then leads us along the path of ‘what classes do you like?’ and ‘what are your interests?’ We chat about what school assignments have been exciting, which were painful, and which ones would fit in careers of their interest. It’s usually a quick conversation that ends in a shrug or two, and I’m left contemplating much more than originally planned.

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HIPPA 101

Bill Davis, Chief Information Officer — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:30:44 +0000

Healthcare is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. One of the broadest and most comprehensive sets of Federal healthcare regulations in America today is broadly labeled as ‘HIPAA’. Every one of us knows about HIPAA by now. As healthcare consumers, we have all seen and signed those Notices of Privacy Practices forms wherever we receive healthcare services. As Grafton employees, we are subject to its provisions from the provider standpoint.

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Why is Ukeru Important?

Pam Martin, Training Support Manager — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 14:30:33 +0000

There are many different crisis intervention systems that exist to aid staff working in the behavioral and mental health field in managing crisis situations. Most agencies select a system whose philosophy matches the philosophy of the organization.

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Establishing a Vision: Navigating the Waters of Special Education in a World Teeming with Contradiction, Limitation, and Disparate Agendas

Allyson Davis, Principal — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 12:00:13 +0000

The vision

In the world of high finance, corporate mergers, and strategic business plans, the key to a successful venture starts with establishing a clear roadmap or vision, so all members work toward the same objective. Conversely, failing to establish a vision leads to splintered projects that lack focus, waste human and monetary resources, and often end in failure.

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Are Those with Autism More Likely to Be Bullied?

Kim Sanders, President Ukeru Systems — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:00:33 +0000

Hardly a day goes that we don’t see a story in the media about bullying, especially with regard to how children and teens are treating each other, and this increased awareness has resulted in a sort of hyper-vigilance about the problem all across our society. Now another aspect of the issue has rightfully entered the public conversation: bullying children with autism. A recent study conducted by the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) revealed that 63% of children with autism have been bullied at some point in their life.

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Action for Autism

Shweta Adyanthaya, Director, Communications — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:00:37 +0000

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that Autism Spectrum Disorder affects one out of every 68 births in the U.S. In the past two decades alone, the incidence of autism has increased by 600 percent. So how do we cope with the growing challenge? And how will we pay for it?

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Striving towards Superior Customer Service—Are we there yet?

Shweta Adyanthaya, Director, Communications — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:00:40 +0000

“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises; he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” Mahatma Gandhi

In today’s social economy, the key to standing apart from the competition is the ability to provide exemplary customer service. Although there are many tools, strategies and trainings available to help organizations provide exemplary customer experiences, it really boils down to engaging in three activities:

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Evidence-based Practice or Practice-based Evidence?

Scott Zeiter, COO — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:00:48 +0000

In the mental health community, we have all come to live under the hegemony of “empirically based care,” led by payors, auditors, governmental authorities (read SAMSHA), our own licensing boards, and administrators—like myself—desperate to demonstrate that their psychotherapeutic services are cost effective.

But are they? I’m not convinced that we are doing our profession or our clients a great service by following this policy, and I’m unsure where it ultimately leads us.

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Developing a Tool for Meaningful Employment Opportunities

Chad Lesman and Roger Styron, Career and Technical Education Teachers — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:00:55 +0000

Individuals with disabilities represent one of the largest minority groups seeking employment in today’s marketplace. One crucial step to their success lies in assessing their readiness for supported or competitive employment, but there is currently no broadly available tool to help public educators make this kind of evaluation.

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