Vol 2 • Issue 4 • Sep 2011

Over the past year, we have worked to merge two organizations – Grafton and Graydon Manor – each with more than 50 years of experience in helping vulnerable and high-risk populations to lead better, more independent lives. Today, I could not be more pleased to announce the launch of our new, consolidated organization – Grafton Integrated Health Network (GIHN).

In addition to our new name, we also have a new “face” – an updated brand that not only reflects what we do but also acknowledges the two outstanding legacy organizations from which we grew. This brand includes an updated logo, tagline and color palette. This new look was not something we took lightly. We started with a combination of quantitative and qualitative research to better understand how our many audiences – all of you, the readers of this newsletter, for instance – perceive both Grafton and Graydon Manor. This included one-on-one stakeholder interviews, media soft soundings and internal and external online surveys. Our research helped inform the new brand. It allowed us to be sensitive to the emotion steeped in the two legacy organizations while also allowed us to look toward the future.

“The staff is there when I can’t be. They’re working really hard on my son’s goals for himself. I really like that they are so person centered and that they know my son. They really care about him.” – Parent

The connected G of the icon itself is intended to leverage the legacy of both Grafton and Graydon Manor. The three colors that comprise the image are meant to reflect a harmony of interworking pieces and to signify the equally important and distinct parts of Grafton Integrated Health Network, all working together as one system of care. We believe our new logo reflects not only who we are today, but our vision for the future.

You may have already seen our new look on emails, presentations or other materials. We look forward to hearing what you think.

I believe the changes we have made over the past year will allow GIHN to better serve the agencies, clients and families with whom we work. We will not only provide all of the services we have in the past, but we will also develop new programs. For instance, a short term psychiatric stabilization program is now available on the Leesburg campus (formerly Graydon Manor). The short term psychiatric stabilization program provides outcome-oriented, person and family centered individualized treatment for children and adolescents ages twelve to seventeen.

“We think that combining these two entities will result in an organization that offers the following: a solid continuum of care, a willingness to use creativity and out-of-the-box thinking as it strives to serve localities’ needs, and a customer-friendly orientation.” – Referral Agency

As we move forward, we will continue to refine and strengthen our services with respect to both developmental disabilities and behavioral health. Our vision is to expand our offerings to address the emerging areas in which you – the clients and communities we serve – demonstrate the most need.

Though we have a new name and a new look, I want to be clear that those things you appreciated most about both legacy organizations will remain intact. Our service delivery and quality of care will continue to be completely seamless to our clients, their families and their entire circle of support.

“When my son started, Grafton worked with him on academics and social skills. Then when my son reached 20, academics weren’t as important as life skills. So Grafton switched their focus to vocational skills. What I love is that the program changed as his needs changed.” – Parent

Without you, none of this would have been possible. We look forward to working with all of you for another 50 years and beyond.
For more information about the continuum of services offered at GIHN, please contact the admissions office at admissions@grafton.org.

• “Surfing the Minimum Growth Line: Goal Mastery through Data-Based Decision Making” – presented by Lisa Marshall, Director, Clinical Services and “Minimization of Restraint and Seclusion Model presented by Kim Sanders, Executive Vice President & Chief Outcomes Officer at the Child and Parent Resource Centre, in London, Ontario on September 23rd.
• “Introduction to Autism” presented by Kim Sanders and Shamsi Sadeghzadeh, Director, Outreach Services to doctoral residents in Martinsburg, West Virginia

• Grafton Integrated Health Network will be participating in Walk Now for Autism Speaks on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond Virginia. Grafton IHN will serve as a sponsor for the event and will host an information booth complete with a corn pit and a gold fish toss game for children and families.