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Grafton School started with one
Boyce mother
February 7, 2007
By: Betsy Allen
 Elevated
sidewalks connect the buildings at the Grafton School. The school
has the capacity to house 88 students. A facility designed to meet
the needs of many disabled children started with the needs of one.
In 1958, 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.
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.
"Most, if not all, of these
children have had some kind of trauma in their life," said Shweta
Adyanthaya, director of communications for the Berryville facility.
"It is manifested in different ways."
She explained that most of the
children in the facility show aggressive behavior, which can be
exhibited as aggression toward oneself, others or to property.
Most residents are referred by the
Department of Social Services, the school system or by a probation
officer. Children must have a psychiatric 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 services
are paid for through Medicaid or Comprehensive Services Act (CSA)
funds.
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 to 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.
"We come up with a treatment (plan)
and set goals to move the child back to his family and community,"
Adyanthaya said.
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' needs.
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.
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.
Security continues to be an
overriding concern at the Berryville facility. After an incident
where two female residents entered the boys' area in the Berryville
facility last May, increased measures have been taken to ensure the
safety of the children.
"Kids have to be safe before you
can provide adequate treatment," Adyanthaya said.
A visitor will notice cameras
positioned at various locations, employees with walkie-talkies and
controlled access through badge-in doors.
"When there is an incident with a
child," Adyanthaya explained, "the immediate challenge is to make
sure the child is safe."
The various strategies employees
may use are in the child's individual plan, and sometimes involve
restraint and seclusion. But she noted that Grafton is trying to
move away from these.
Grafton now employs a system she
called "revolutionary." 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 "best practice standards."
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.
The ultimate goal to a stay at
Grafton is to reintroduce the child to the world outside its walls.
"We can be successful here,"
Adyanthaya said, "but eventually they have to be successful
outside."
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