The Meadowridge Behavioral Health Center, a campus of the Meadowridge Schools, is a Chapter 766 approved and EEC licensed residential school for 26 adolescent boys and girls aged 12 to 22 with moderate to severe mental illness, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviors. Students range from low to high average cognitive functioning, may have learning disabilities and medical fragility. On site nursing coverage, 16 hours daily, 7 days a week, supports students with psychiatric diagnoses and conditions such as brittle diabetes, requiring intensive monitoring and support. Students who would otherwise remain in hospital levels of care, can enjoy the benefits of a warm, home-like private school setting.

Students come primarily from all over Massachusetts and from other New England and Mid-Atlantic states. For many adolescents, Meadowridge represents their best hope for attaining a safe and healthful life in the community. The program employs a trauma-informed cognitive behavioral model including DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) that helps youngsters realize significant behavioral improvement while individual, group, and family therapy proceeds. The staffing pattern supports active treatment with a high ratio of staff to students. Staff includes teachers, nurses, counselors, recreation, clinicians, and our Medical Director, a board-certified psychiatrist.

Every youngster attends the 766-approved psycho-educational school located on site, operated 5 days a week, year-round, and incorporating art, music, and drama into a rewarding curriculum. Students are actively prepared for, and may achieve successful completion of the Massachusetts MCAS requirements for high school graduation, while in residence. This program is community and family-oriented, affording every youngster multiple opportunities to interact with family members, local, and home communities, in safe and positive ways. A rich, therapeutic recreation program is supported by the indoor recreation facilities, an outdoor swimming pool, and playing fields at the 6-acre Meadowridge campus. A small animal farm, greenhouse, art and pottery studio, and vocational buildings augment the opportunities for each youth to discover learning experiences and pleasure in positive behaviors. The length of stay averages 12 to 18 months and Meadowridge carries out careful aftercare planning so that gains in school achievement, social successes, and behavioral self-control are continuously sustained. Students transitioning to local geographic communities can be supported through Meadowridge aftercare services, including clinical and visiting resources; training and consultation to the next site or to the family; emergency on-call and respite services.

Meadowridge Behavioral Health Center Contact Information

Meadowridge Behavioral Health Center
664 Stevens Road
Swansea, MA 02777
Phone: (508) 677-0304
Fax: (508) 678-9059

Stephanie Ward, M.Ed., Director
Edgardo C. Angeles, M.D., Medical Director
Mary Norman, RN, Director of Admissions

meadowridge@ jri.org