A recent series of visits to Cohannet Academy, a JRI program located within Taunton State Hospital, offered legislators a meaningful, on-the-ground look at one of Massachusetts’ most critical youth-serving programs. On April 14, State Representative Lisa Field of the 3rd Bristol District toured the facility and participated in a roundtable discussion with administrators and staff from Justice Resource Institute. On April 22, Senator Kelly Dooner, also of the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth, met with staff and toured the program to better understand its impact.

Photo Caption: from left to right, Michelle Sturtevant, Program Director at JRI’s Cohannet Academy; JT Tormey, Division Director of Acute Residential Services at JRI, State Senator Kelly Dooner, Kaitlyn Pascale, Director of Nursing at JRI’s Cohannet Academy, and Dwayne Pina, Assistant Program Director at JRI’s Cohannet Academy.

Cohannet Academy is the only all-female, secure Department of Mental Health residential treatment program in New England, providing specialized care for youth with complex needs. Both visits underscored the importance of intensive residential treatment programs, as well as therapeutic day schools, wraparound services, and sustained state support.

Photo Caption: from left to right, Meredith Rapoza, Vice President at JRI; JT Tormey, Division Director of Acute Residential Services at JRI, State Representative Lisa Field, and Michelle Sturtevant, Program Director at Cohannet Academy.

“We were grateful to welcome Representative Lisa Field and Senator Kelly Dooner to Cohannet Academy,” said Meredith Rapoza, Vice President at JRI. “Thank you for engaging with our team and for your dedication to supporting the children and families we serve.”

Reflecting on her visit, Representative Field emphasized the importance of these firsthand experiences, noting that as the House prepares for budget debates, opportunities to better understand programs like Cohannet, and the gaps they help fill, are essential to ensuring strong safety nets for vulnerable populations across Massachusetts.

Senator Dooner echoed the importance of the visit, noting that building strong communication with organizations like Cohannet is vital, as they serve children in moments when broader systems have fallen short, and that being a strong partner at the state level helps ensure better support for those who need it most.