Justice Resource Institute – Meadowridge Academy - Swansea, MA

About Justice Resource Institute – Meadowridge Academy

Meadowridge Academy of the Justice Resource Institute (JRI) in Swansea, Massachusetts, is a comprehensive therapeutic residential school for adolescent males and females. These youth receive treatment for mental health issues, behavioral difficulties, substance use, and complex trauma.

Residential Academy for Youth Using the ARC Model

The academy uses trauma informed treatment under the ARC (attachment, regulation, competency) model.

Attachment seeks to invigorate the bond between youth and caregivers or parents. Youth are taught to regulate their emotions and physiological responses. Competency training teaches youth emotional regulation through skill building, healthy social interactions, and problem solving.

Advanced Therapies and Animal Assisted Treatment

Therapies used to treat the youth here include sensory motor arousal regulation treatment, neurofeedback, dialectical behavior therapy, and animal assisted interventions. Animal assisted interventions help youth regulate their energy and emotions by repairing underdeveloped frontal lobes, often caused by trauma.

For youth who will not verbally communicate during therapy sessions, animal assisted intervention allows them to communicate with the animals without reservation. A dog park with trainers is utilized during clinical therapy sessions and during vocational classes. Other animals are available for therapeutic purposes.

Education and Work Force Preparation

Your child will attend school at the academy year round and engage in vocational training such as woodworking, animal care, horticulture, and expressive arts. The academy uses the UDL (Universal Design for Learning) as their academic model.

Parents may be concerned about their child having a traditional school experience when in residential treatment. The academy offers sports programs, proms, and field trips. They also offer off campus vocational internships, apprenticeships, and volunteering activities.

Facility Overview

Number of Available Beds

Latest Reviews

Maria

Reviewed on 07/30/2025

They wouldn’t let me leave the fat bitch was in the corner they have poor staff and everything I left and went home the same day and on top of that there is abuse and sexual harassment that’s going on there they be trying to cover it up and they will take a pic of you and post it for other to see and on top of that they are mean and not nice at all I wouldn’t recommend bringing you’re child here they will starve u if u miss behave They are mentally il

jessica dasilva

4 months ago on Google

Not surprised at these terrible reviews, I know personally the case manager Mariza Clinton, judges and speaks poorly of people she doesn't even know. Literally never had a discussion with this woman and she bashed me without even knowing anything about me. Maybe don't judge and have a conversation with someone.

Deyondre Jackson

3 years ago on Google

This place was a horrible experience for me in the past it’s funny seeing these post knowing I was there with those people but staff didn’t care mistreated us and made us feel like we had no chance in life and that’s me personally Now I have my life under control and I bet nobody from meadow ridge thought it possible

Rehab Score

Our Methodology

Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology

3.3 / 10

Other Forms of Payment

Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.

Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.

Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.

Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Treatments

Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.

Clinical Services

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.