GRACY

Get Real About Choices and Consequences for You

Why GRACY Matters?

Many teens and adults take risks without fully considering the potential consequences. According to the CDC, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 44. Nationally, more than 20% of these unintentional deaths result from motor vehicle crashes based on recent mortality data showing that motor‑vehicle deaths account for roughly 19% of all unintentional injury deaths. Additionally, about 30% of fatal motor vehicle crashes involve alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and John Hopkins Medicine.

In Virginia, the DMV reported that in 2024, there were 318 people killed and 4,306 people injured in alcohol‑related crashes. Within this group, 19 fatalities and 266 injuries involved youth ages 15 to 19, according to the National Safety Council.

GRACY’s mission is to change this trajectory. By offering an interactive, educational program focused on choices and consequences, GRACY works to positively influence attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. The goal is to reduce repeat offenses, prevent injuries, and ultimately save lives.

GRACY educational program

GRACY participants take part in a simulation activity. The GRACY program is a hospital-based psychoeducational program where youth and adults have the unique opportunity to directly observe patients throughout the patient care continuum who are affected by alcohol and drug use, and reckless behaviors such as speeding, failure to use seatbelts, and impaired driving. Participants observe and experience post‑injury challenges firsthand through guided observation and simulation activities, such as using a wheelchair, crutches, and “Fatal Vision” goggles, to reinforce the real‑world consequences of traumatic injuries. To reinforce the educational programming, participants' journal about their experiences, complete at-home exercises, attend a 12-step meeting, and participate in an open discussion about their GRACY experience.

GRACY features two impactful educational workshops. Alcohol & Other Drugs: Their Effects on You, Your Family, and the Community. This workshop provides an evidence‑based introduction to the impact of alcohol and other substance use on individual health, family dynamics, and the broader community. The session is led by substance abuse specialists from VCU, who deliver expert education, facilitate discussion, and offer practical strategies to support healthier decision‑making and risk reduction.

In the second workshop, “Judicial and Legal Consequences,” a law enforcement partner presents real case examples and explains the judicial and legal outcomes related to alcohol and drug use. The session helps participants understand how substance‑related decisions can result in serious legal repercussions for themselves and cause harm to others.

The final phase of the program is a community service component. Each program participant completes ten hours of community service, promoting responsibility and positive change. To assess long‑term program impact, participants complete pre‑ and post‑surveys, and recidivism rates are evaluated one year after program completion. Graduates receive a certificate upon completion of the program, celebrating their commitment to making safer choices.

Goals

GRACY’s mission is to deliver an interactive educational experience that empowers individuals to make healthier, safer choices, especially those impacted by alcohol and drug misuse, reckless behavior, or impaired driving.

The program includes:

14 hours of education, observations, and simulation
Direct observation of trauma patients in VCU Medical Center's or Norfolk General Hospital’s Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Acute Care floor and Rehabilitation Unit
Participation in simulation activities following each direct observation experience
Educational workshop for participants and parents on drugs and alcohol and their effects
Educational workshop on judicial and legal consequences
At home activities to reinforce the reality of trauma
10 hours of meaningful community service activities

How to enroll

There is a fee of $100 for the GRACY Program. The GRACY Program operates in Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. If you have any questions, or to enroll in the GRACY program, please see contact information below:

GRACY at VCUHealth - Richmond, VA
Phone: 804-628-4367
GRACY@vcuhealth.org

GRACY at Sentara General - Norfolk, VA
Phone: 757-388-6482
GRACYSentara@vcuhealth.org

GRACY partners

If your organization is interested in partnering with us or learning more about partnership opportunities, please contact:

GRACY at VCUHealth - Richmond, VA
Phone: 804-628-4367
GRACY@vcuhealth.org

GRACY at Sentara General - Norfolk, VA
Phone: 757-388-6482
GRACYSentara@vcuhealth.org

Program funding

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles provides grant funding for the GRACY Program. The continuous partnership has helped expand the GRACY Program across Virginia.