Grafton provides education, residential, and community-based ser vices for people with intellectual, developmental, and complex mental health challenges.
Our focus in 2023 was and continues to be lifelong learning! At Grafton, we are passionate about helping the individuals we serve to recognize their strengths and use them to achieve success in learning across diverse subjects and environments.
Creating solution-focused opportunities for individuals challenged by complex disabilities.
Grafton is committed to excellence in the delivery of person-centered care and value-added services.
Welcome to our year in review!
Grafton’s CEO, Jamie Stewart, is excited to share some of our highlights from this past year. Grafton is proud to be able to provide exceptional services and solutions to those we teach and serve, helping them thrive and achieve life-changing outcomes. As you browse our report, we hope that it leaves you inspired. Together, we are making a difference!
www.grafton.org/about-us/our-team/
www.grafton.org/about-us/our-team/
On behalf of our leadership team, we thank you for taking an interest in Grafton. Whether you are an employee, family member, board member, donor or are simply interested in learning more about Grafton, your support means the world to us.
We look forward to our continued partnership as we impact individuals’ lives together!
James Stewart, Grafton CEO
In the video below, our Director of Education and Executive Director of our Winchester Region, Allyson Davis, proudly shares our 2023 education-related highlights. At Grafton, we are always looking to improve within our programs to benefit our staff and students. As you will soon hear, we implemented several new initiatives that support our goal of lifelong learning!
“We are fortunate to have leaders in each program with years of educational experience working side by side with a team of the most dedicated teachers, instructional aides, clinicians, and support staff.”
- Allyson Davis, Director of Education Executive Director, Winchester, VA
At Grafton, we strive to create a culture of lifelong learning for our employees. While they are helping our clients reach their fullest potential, we want them to fulfill their own goals and reach their fullest potential as well.
It is our honor to spotlight some of our incredible employees in this section. Whether you have been with us for a short period of time or for decades, we greatly appreciate your contributions to our mission. It is because of all of you that we are able to create solution-focused opportunities for individuals challenged by complex disabilities.
https://www.grafton.org/stories/employee-spotlight-joshua-ward/
“I love working with the kids. This job really gives me a sense of purpose. I wake up each day and tackle real problems, and that motivates me to do my best work. I also really like the staff I work with. Like with most jobs, the people you work with make a big difference.”
“Grafton is an excellent company to work for. They are willing to give you the opportunities and tools to succeed if you are willing to put the work in to be the best version of yourself.”
“My team is everything and really what makes everything possible here. My immediate team of teachers are the leaders of their classrooms, and I think it’s important to help them feel as confident and supported as possible.”
This year, we were excited to sit down with Michael Wilfred and capture his incredible story. Michael started his career at Grafton as a housekeeper. Grafton leadership quickly recognized that Michael had a special gift and encouraged him to further his career within the organization. Michael did just that, holding several different positions before working his way to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
Michael’s story has inspired us and will hopefully inspire others to take advantage of all that Grafton has to offer!
Michael’s story is just one of the many professional success stories at Grafton. Among these success stories, include so many employees who have spent their life contributing to Grafton’s mission.
Grafton is proud to share that currently there are 183 employees that have been with the organization for 10 or more years!
We believe that we have built something special here at Grafton, where our clients are able to thrive and achieve unprecedented outcomes. This is largely due to our person-centered, non-restrictive approach to care.
In 2023, Grafton held many fun events, introduced several new, innovative platforms to improve our education services, broke ground on an exciting donor-funded project, received heartwarming feedback from families, and so much more!
https://www.grafton.org/stories/ukeru-systems-gave-us-hope/
https://www.grafton.org/stories/ukeru-systems-gave-us-hope/
Career and Technical Education Classroom
Spotlight
https://www.grafton.org/stories/grafton-students-package-success-for-ukeru/
https://www.grafton.org/stories/grafton-students-package-success-for-ukeru/
“We had some dark weeks. The tools and resources that Grafton has provided both my son and family to use has been so beneficial. They brought the life back into my child; from where he was to where he is now, is a difference of night and day. He has grown in so many different ways.”
-- A.S., Grafton parent
Exciting things are happening for our Community Support Services’ program! We broke ground on an exciting new project, generously donated by the DeMuro family. This project will provide a state-of-the-art, handicap accessible home for the adults we serve.
Summer Bash
Project Drone Footage
Summer Musical
In 2004, Grafton launched an initiative to reduce the use of restraint and seclusion. After seeing such incredible success in our own programs, Ukeru's restraint-free, trauma-informed approach is now being utilized across the world.
Over 650 schools/organizations across North America, New Zealand, and Brazil are utilizing Ukeru.
Showcasing our customers’ incredible success in a series of monthly case studies
https://www.ukerusystems.com/resources/podcast/
Ukeru’s podcast, The Mindset, came to life with several new episodes, featuring special guests.
Ukeru’s Marketing Team attended several conferences across the country each quarter to exhibit and speak to various audiences.
In 2023, Ukeru’s Marketing team traveled to Rhode Island to capture the fascinating manufacturing process of our patented, blocking equipment. See a glimpse of their work here!
https://vimeo.com/869102813
https://vimeo.com/869102813
https://www.ukerusystems.com/how-we-can-help/
Increased promotion of Ukeru’s additional services including consultation, cultural assessment, and debriefing training to fully support schools/organizations in addition to training and equipment.
96%
Of parents surveyed indicated that they would recommend Grafton services to another family
812
Infants & Toddlers
100%
Of treatment plans and interventions utilize empirically based methods
94.26%
Grafton achieved a 94.26% on the VADOE Student Improvement Measures Assessment Process. This measures educational growth of VA students across developmental domains.
5
336 Children & Adolescents
Delivered services within five main geographic regions
97 Adults
Grafton would like to express our deepest gratitude and recognize the incredible generosity of the following individuals, corporations, foundations, and others who have graciously supported our mission.
Amazon Smiles
Catoma Baking Projects, LLC
Christ Episcopal Church
FrontStream
Herbert Family Foundation
Loudoun Medical Group
Partlow Insurance Agency, Inc.
The Community Foundation
The Demuro Legacy Fund
The McReynolds Family Foundation
United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley
Kenneth Berger
Kim Biancheri
Lora Blair
Angela L. Brown
Daniel Carto
Kathy A. Cresegiona
Bernadine Dykes
Tim & Mary Eccard
Sharon Foltz
Laura Ford
Joyce Hammond
Kent Houchins
Susan Jones
Randall Kirby
Vanessa Lane
Rhonda Richardson
Sandra Riffee
Zara Risoldi
Kimberly Sanders
Tony Sanders
Greta Selden
James Stewart
Christopher Szymonik
Cindy Szymonik
Maureen Terek
John S. Zeiter
