May 29, 2008, Winchester, VA -- Effective March 1, 2008, Grafton, a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of behavioral disabilities and disorders, and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) agreed jointly to expand the delivery of the Virginia Autism Resource Center’s (VARC’s) services to a broader market. VARC will focus on building new early intervention strategies in the public school system, an action consistent with, and supportive of, the Commonwealth’s initiative to develop new and innovative “systems of care” for its most vulnerable children, it is also an example of VARC’s continued efforts to enrich the lives of those it serves. By combining Grafton’s capabilities with the resources of VCU’s School of Education, these initiatives are able to achieve a greater number of positive outcomes without significantly adding costs.

With one of the top 40 graduate education schools in the United States, VCU expects to continue its role as a leader in teacher training in this very important area by collaborating with Grafton to operate VARC. It has long been VARC's mission to provide on-site training and consultation to families, teachers, and staff that support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders while also providing information, referral, and library services to those same constituents. In addition, VARC has provided facilitation and expert guidance to State and National agencies and committees regarding policy development.  As a component of multiple community services and research efforts at VCU, VARC will continue to provide direct consultation, and training in research-based practices to stakeholders.

The partnership with VCU met our requirements of adding value to both organizations while further expanding VARC’s mission and service capacity.  In short, a good thing just got better and everybody wins, especially the greater autism community that VARC has served so well,” said James Gaynor, Grafton’s CEO.

"There is a growing need for autism services in Virginia," said James Reinhard, M.D., commissioner of the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. "This partnership will be an important resource to help Virginia families affected by autism get necessary education, training and support."

The joint strategic partnership enhances both organizations’ ability to achieve their missions.  Grafton is committed to strengthening VARC’s capacity to deliver value to those in the autism community who will directly benefit from these efforts, and how the Grafton mission is served.

“We are also hopeful that our unique role in the success of VARC’s expansion initiative will pave the way for additional value added collaboration between Grafton and VCU,” Gaynor said.  Grafton is actively exploring other joint opportunities for technical assistance and training, internship rotations, applied research and grant development.

For fifty years, Grafton has been providing 24 hour support to individuals with co-occurring intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities.  As a nationally recognized leader in behavioral healthcare, Grafton has more than 700 employees and supports more than 400 clients per year.  A psychiatric residential treatment center in Berryville, Virginia supports children and adolescents with mild to moderate developmental and psychiatric disabilities.  Operations are also located in Winchester and Richmond Virginia where community-based group homes support children and adults with autism or other pervasive intellectual disabilities and may also have a concurrent psychiatric condition. 

For more information about Grafton, please go to www.grafton.org. For more information about VCU, please go to www.soe.vcu.edu.