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 an ...
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.
Fact checked and written by:
Kimberly Hawkins, MSc
Edited by:
Nikki Wisher, BA
Facility Overview
27 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
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.
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
Location
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
JRI’s Meadowridge Academy provides a 24-hour therapeutic residential school environment for youth aged 12 to 22. This high-intensity setting integrates year-round academics with clinical support, ensuring students remain safe while processing complex trauma and developing essential self-regulation.
Treatments
This program addresses co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use issues within a trauma-informed framework. Clinicians focus on the underlying emotional dysregulation and complex trauma that often drive addictive behaviors and related behavioral challenges in adolescents.
The facility specializes in treating severe mental health challenges, including mood disorders and PTSD. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the clinical team coordinates psychiatric care, nursing services, and individualized therapy to stabilize youth and promote long-term psychological wellness.
Clinical Services
Clinicians utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help students identify and modify negative thought patterns and behaviors. At Meadowridge Academy, this evidence-based approach is adapted for youth to improve problem-solving skills, social interactions, and daily emotional management.
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 at this academy helps youth manage intense emotions and decrease self-harming behaviors. By teaching mindfulness and distress tolerance, the program empowers students to navigate interpersonal conflicts and maintain emotional stability during their residential treatment.
The academy incorporates experiential modalities like animal-assisted interventions and expressive arts to engage students. These hands-on activities, including woodworking and horticulture, allow youth to process trauma and build competencies in a non-traditional, active, and supportive setting.
Justice Resource Institute emphasizes family involvement through structured therapy sessions designed to repair attachments. Clinicians work with caregivers to develop supportive home environments, ensuring that the progress made during residential treatment translates to successful community reintegration.
Daily group therapy sessions provide a supportive environment for youth to practice social skills and peer regulation. Led by master’s-level clinicians, these sessions focus on shared experiences, competency building, and the evidence-based Attachment, Regulation, and Competency framework.
Each student receives intensive individual therapy focused on their specific trauma history and clinical needs. With low caseloads of roughly six students per clinician, Meadowridge Academy ensures highly personalized support using the ARC model to build resilience.
Trauma therapy is the cornerstone of treatment, utilizing specialized techniques like Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART). The program addresses the neurobiological impacts of complex trauma, helping students safely process past experiences and improve overall emotional control.
Staff
Mia DeMarco, MPA
President & Chief Executive Officer
Kari Beserra, LMHC
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Kerry-Ann Williams
Chief Medical Officer
Jennifer Miguel
Executive Vice President LICSW
Michelle Vaughan, LICSW
Vice President of Residential Services
Contact Information
664 Stevens Road
Swansea, MA 02777
Get Help Now - 508-375-7527
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