Cutchins Staff Member Recognized for Leadership in Trauma-informed Care
NORTHAMPTON — Cutchins Programs for Children & Families announced that Rudaun Graham of the organization’s Clinically Intensive Residential Treatment Program was recognized at the 26th annual Department of Mental Health (DMH) Restraint & Seclusion Prevention Initiative Provider Forum on May 5 in Westborough.
He is one of two recipients from across the state to receive the Department of Mental Health’s Deborah Janssens Award. Janssens has been described as a highly respected leader in the behavioral health field with a strong calling, who performed many roles and had a great many talents and virtues.
This annual statewide forum brings together mental health professionals, providers, advocates, and leaders dedicated to reducing and preventing restraint and seclusion through trauma-informed, relationship-based approaches to care.
Graham was recognized for his longstanding commitment to the evidence-based Six Core Strategies framework and for his leadership in advancing the Building Bridges philosophy within Cutchins’ Clinically Intensive Residential Treatment Program at Three Rivers. Both the Six Core Strategies and Building Bridges are international initiatives that are implemented to strengthen partnerships among youth, families, and providers; emphasize the necessity of trauma-informed care; foster more compassionate systems of care; and reduce the use of restraint and seclusion.
Graham has been with Cutchins for 22 years and currently serves as the director of Building Bridges & Outreach at the Three Rivers program. He is dedicated to creating healing-centered environments grounded in dignity, safety, compassion, relationships, and the voices of youth and families.
“Rudaun embodies the type of leadership and care that exemplifies the vision, mission, and values of Cutchins Programs for Children & Families, while remaining humble and always prioritizing the needs and goals of others,” said Tina Champagne, CEO of Cutchins Programs for Children & Families. “We are so proud of him and thrilled that he has been given this very special, distinguished honor and recognition by the Department of Mental Health.”
The forum also included a presentation by Tina Champagne, an internationally recognized trauma-informed care expert, known for her pioneering work in sensory modulation, trauma-informed mental healthcare, and the Six Core Strategies. Her efforts have transformed behavioral health systems nationwide and internationally by promoting trauma-informed care, sensory- and body-based approaches, and a focus on relationships, safety, and recovery.
Three Rivers, part of Cutchins Programs for Children & Families, is a clinically intensive, residential treatment program serving children ages 6-12 with complex emotional, behavioral, and trauma-related needs. The program emphasizes trauma-informed care, family engagement, therapeutic relationships, and evidence-based practices to help children build a sense of safety, regulation, and resilience.
At Cutchins, trauma-informed care is rooted in the understanding that healing occurs through relationships, compassion, and community. The organization is committed to advancing compassionate, evidence-informed practices that support children, youth, and families throughout Western Mass. and across the state.