Swansea Wood School
789 Stevens Road
Swansea, MA 02777
About Swansea Wood School
The Swansea Wood School is a school for both boys and girls. They offer residential services for youth coping with behavioral or mental health difficulties as well as for those who have mild to moderate cognitive challenges. It is operated by the Justice Resource Institute (JRI).
The school accepts students between 12 and 22 years old. I'm happy to see that they accept students of all genders including transgender and non conforming students.
The Swansea Wood School can accommodate 27 students and offers year-round programs. Each student will have individualized support in all aspects including clinical, vocational and educational needs.
I like that their program blends therapeutic services with recreational and athletic activities, educational and vocational services and more. This individualized program helps students balance school, personal life and community while they build their self-esteem and pursue their individual talents and interests.
Students can access all kinds of behavioral health services including substance use treatment under the JRI umbrella of services. If the services you need are not available at the school, they can refer you to a different program to meet those needs.
All areas of their program are trauma informed. The Swansea Wood School therapists are Masters level clinicians who are trained in a variety of techniques to meet the needs of each student. I like that the caseloads are only about six students per therapist so that everyone gets the intensive treatment and case management they need to thrive.
Referrals for admission to the Swansea Woods School come from a variety of sources including mental health agencies, school systems, and state social services. Before admission each student will need to submit a completed referral packet. This is a full scope submission that includes academic and psychological assessments and previous school history.
Once staff gets this packet the screening team will have a telephone interview with the family or relevant agencies. Then you'll be invited to tour the campus to see if it feels like the right place for your youth. I'm impressed that so much attention goes into pre placement interviews to make sure that this school is the right place for your student.