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By Betsy Allen
\nFebruary 7, 2007<\/p>\n
Ruth Birch, of Boyce, searched for support services as she struggled with her learning-disabled son. At that time, there were few resources available for children with disabilities. So she took matters into her own hands, starting a school in her home. Eventually, her endeavor grew and expanded into multiple school campuses and group homes.<\/p>\n
Today, the Grafton School is a private, psychiatric residential treatment facility, offering services for adults and children in Berryville, Winchester and Richmond. The Berryville campus focuses specifically on treating children, from age 6 to 21, who have challenging behaviors.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost, if not all, of these children have had some kind of trauma in their life,\u201d said Shweta Adyanthaya, director of communications for the Berryville facility. \u201cIt is manifested in different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
She explained that most of the children in the facility show aggressive behavior, which can be exhibited as aggression toward oneself, othen property.<\/p>\n
Most residents are referred by the Department of Social Services, the school system or by a probation officer. Children must have a psychial diagnosis, and they must meet the criteria to be placed in the facility and funded for treatment. Grafton has no private pay clients; all of its clients are paid for through Medicaid or Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds.<\/p>\n
When a new resident is brought to the school, there is a specific process followed. A psychiatrist meets with the child and his or her family I confirm the initial diagnosis. The assessment team then creates a plan that takes a cognitive approach and may include a variety of therapies individual, family, speech and language, and occupational, among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe come up with a treatment (plan) and set goals to move the child back to his family and community,\u201d Adyanthaya said.<\/p>\n
Grafton has a capacity of 88 residents, but the actual number of children living on-site varies. The Berryville facility has more than 300 employees including certified teachers and a host of instructional specialists to address individual students\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n
The grounds house a fully accredited grade and high school. The class day runs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 or 3 p.m., depending on planned activities.<\/p>\n
Children each get their own room, which they may decorate as they wish. Boys and girls reside in separate areas; there are general spaces – furnished with sofas, chairs, tables and a TV – designed for group activities.<\/p>\n
Security continues to be an overriding concern at the Berryville facility. After an incident where two female residents entered the boys\u2019 area Berryville facility last May, increased measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the children. \u201cKids have to be safe before you can provide adequate treatment,\u201d Adyanthaya said.<\/p>\n
A visitor will notice cameras positioned at various locations, employees with walkie-talkies and controlled access through badge-in doors. \u201cWhen there is an incident with a child,\u201d Adyanthaya explained, \u201cthe immediate challenge is to make sure the child is safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The various strategies employees may use are in the child\u2019s individual plan and sometimes involve restraint and seclusion. But she noted that Grafton is trying to move away from these.<\/p>\n
Grafton now employs a system she called \u201crevolutionary.\u201d Large cushions, bean bags and pillows are available around the facility. When a child exhibits aggressive behavior, staff members can position them in front of the child. Introduced by a former employee, Grafton now provides this protective equipment at each site, representing what Adyanthaya described as \u201cbest practice standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many residents, the next step after Grafton is a group home sponsored by the school. There are two adult group homes in Clarke County, and many others for children and adults in Winchester and Richmond. The group homes – housing four to six children or adults each help the residents learn to function in the community. They may undergo job training at a vocational center and take part in other activities based on their own needs and abilities.<\/p>\n
The ultimate goal to a stay at Grafton is to reintroduce the child to the world outside its walls. \u201cWe can be successful here,\u201d Adyanthaya said, \u201cbut eventually they have to be successful outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
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By Betsy Allen February 7, 2007 Ruth Birch, of Boyce, searched for support services as she struggled with her learning-disabled son. At that time, there were few resources available for children with disabilities. So she took matters into her own hands, starting a school in her home. Eventually, her endeavor grew and expanded into multiple […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-news-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n