SAMHSA Recognizes Grafton as Premier in Minimization of Restraint Practice

July 19, 2010

News: For Immediate Release
SAMHSA Recognizes Grafton as Premier in Minimization of Restraint Practice

July 19, 2010 – Grafton, Inc. announced recently that it was recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for clinical best practices in minimization of restraint and seclusion. Appearing in a recent SAMHSA issue brief, Grafton was commended for their cost savings through seclusion reduction.

Founded in 1992 under Congressional guidance, SAMHSA is a national organization that aims to minimize the effects of substance abuse and mental illness on individuals by encouraging services in prevention and treatment. In collaboration with both local and national partners, SAMHSA has recently developed a series of issue briefs on the use of seclusion and restraint techniques among behavioral health facilities. In SAMHSA’s March 2010 brief*, Grafton was introduced as a successful case-in-point for their minimization of restraint method, highlighting significant reductions in client injuries, staff turnovers, and fiscal expenses.

“Grafton is proud of its minimization of restraint approach and is honored to be recognized on a national level,” said Grafton CEO, Jim Gaynor. “The staff at Grafton works hard to follow our mandate, ‘Minimize restraint and seclusion without compromising employee and client safety.’

Grafton began its minimization of restraint strategy in the summer of 2004, equipping its professionals with the tools and support necessary to minimize restraint and seclusion as a tool to manage clients in imminent danger of hurting themselves and others. Ultimately, the organization was able to lower the risk of negative outcomes, decrease staff and client injuries, improve clinical outcomes and improve an overall quality of life.

For more than 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 employs more than 600 employees and supports more than 400 clients per year. Its psychiatric residential treatment center in Berryville supports children and adolescents with mild to moderate developmental and psychiatric disabilities. Operations are also located in Winchester and Richmond 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.

*Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2010). Promoting Alternatives to the Use of Seclusion and Restraint—Issue Brief # 4: Making the Business Case. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Contact:
Shweta Adyanthaya, Director of Communications
540-542-0200 ext 6524
sadyanthaya@grafton.org