Revolutionary New Crisis Management System Now Available to South Carolina Schools and Health Facilities

The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs has approved Ukeru Systems as a preferred provider option for “Preventing and Responding to Disruptive Behavior and Crisis Situations.” Ukeru is the nation’s first crisis training program that offers a physical alternative to restraint and seclusion as behavioral management techniques.

“Despite representing only 12 percent of the overall student population, students with disabilities comprise two-thirds of the 267,000 children secluded from their classmates or restrained annually,” stated Kim Sanders, President of Ukeru Systems. “Traditionally, teachers are trained that, if verbal de-escalation doesn’t work instantly to manage disruptive behaviors, children should be restrained or secluded. Though this is far from ideal, educators aren’t offered any alternative techniques.”

The addition of Ukeru as a viable option is a win for children and adults in South Carolina with special needs. Research indicates that restraint and seclusion actually cause and maintain aggression and violence.[i]In fact, using these techniques in an attempt to make the classroom safer is misguided. When a child is placed in restraints or in a seclusion room, past suffering resurfaces, causing him or her to act out even more, and fueling a cycle of long-term trauma. Conversely, reducing and preventing restraint and seclusion can lead to better outcomes for both teachers and students[s1] .

“Ukeru’s crisis management technique is rooted in the belief that the use of physical restraints is not only unnecessary, but also unproductive and that all intervention — educational and behavioral — should be built on an approach of comfort versus control,” said Sanders.

Ukeru Systems, is a division of Grafton Integrated Health Network, a US-based organization serving children and adults with autism and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses. Ten years ago, Grafton issued a mandate to eliminate seclusions and restraints without compromising employee or client safety. Since that time, Grafton has reduced the use of restraints by more than 99 percent and has eliminated seclusion, while also reducing workers’ compensation policy costs and employee turnover. Most importantly, it significantly reduced the number of injuries to both clients and those who care for them.

Due to their success, Grafton has created Ukeru Systems, the first crisis training program to completely eliminate the use of restraints and seclusion and is now in many states across the country.

All media inquiries and interview requests should be directed to Amber McCracken at 703-599-0134 or amber@currentcommunications.org.


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About Ukeru Systems:
Ukeru Systems is a division of Grafton Integrated Health Network. Over the past 10 years, Grafton developed unique and award winning care management tools and techniques. Ukeru Systems now provides Grafton’s behavioral management tools and care trainings to other behavioral health providers. Learn more atwww.ukerusystems.com