First GRACY participants visit Sentara Norfolk General trauma program, ICU

The first three were arrested for driving around 100 miles an hour. A crash at that speed can cause deaths, injuries, and lasting damage. The three young men stood before judges in various traffic courts who referred them to GRACY, a long-running program sponsored by VCU Health, which stands for ‘Get Real About Choices and Consequences for You.’ The regional Level I trauma program at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital has partnered with VCU to bring GRACY to Hampton Roads.

“One poor decision can change your life, and the lives of your family and friends, even strangers who have nothing to do with you,” said Jerry Van Harris, manager of the GRACY program and a veteran social worker. “We are not here to judge you,” Harris added. “We are here to help you make safer and more responsible choices.”

The three young men heard from nurses who work in the trauma department and the hospital’s burn/trauma ICU. They handled equipment used in saving trauma patients and viewed sobering pictures of traumatic injuries. They then toured the trauma bay, ICU and BTU, where they heard from nurses who work with critically injured patients.

GRACY participants tour Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Preventable injuries are the leading cause of death for people 14 to 25 years old. Alcohol is represented in about 32% of fatal car crashes. GRACY homes in on the consequences of reckless behavior, and drug and alcohol use, especially involving impaired driving.

“GRACY tries to raise awareness, and wisdom, by showing participants what can happen if they make irresponsible choices,” Harris said.

“We see the results of impaired driving every day,” said Valeria Mitchell, R.N., manager of the trauma service at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. “Anything we can do to reduce alcohol and drug-related injuries is a plus for the community.”

The multi-week program includes a hospital chaplain, who explains what it’s like to tell a family their loved one is dead after a preventable accident. The rehabilitation department shows painful therapies involved in recovery from traumatic injuries or a traumatic brain injury.

There is also discussion of what jail is like, depending on how bad decisions turn out to be.

GRACY participants navigate a wheelchair obstacle course, test ignition locking systems, and try to walk with “Fatal Vision” alcohol impairment goggles.

They keep a journal of the experience and complete at-home exercises, including writing their own obituary, attending a 12-step meeting, and participating in an open discussion.

The final phase is community service. Participants complete ten hours of meaningful community service within five weeks of completing the GRACY program. Participants receive certificates of completion and are monitored for recidivism for a year.

“GRACY isn’t a perfect solution,” Jerry Van Harris admitted. “But the program has proven over time that it has a positive outcome. Most participants wind up making better choices, and that’s a win for everyone.”

It’s not just court referrals. Anyone can self-refer to GRACY if they think the program would help them. Contact GRACY Hampton Roads at 757-388-6482 or GRACYSentara@vcuhealth.org.