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Susan Wayne Center of Excellence

The Susan Wayne Center of Excellence (SWCE) is a residential treatment center designed to enable students with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment with behavioral, mental health, and medical challenges to reach their maximum potential. SWCE students attend school at River Run Academy, and are offered the opportunity to live on our 38 acre campus or commute from their communities.

A key component of our mission is keeping family-centered values at the forefront of our work. Our programs utilize a strength-based, individualized, whole-person approach within a trauma-informed framework to help students build positive relationships, learn and practice self-regulation skills, and identify strengths.

Susan Wayne Center of Excellence exterior view
At a Glance
At the Susan Wayne Center of Excellence, we offer intensive services for adolescent youth who are mild-to-moderately cognitively impaired with concurred behavioral, mental health, and medical issues

Age

11 to 20

Gender

All

Referrals

CT DCF, Carelon, Public School Districts, Out of State referrals

Capacity

Capacity

33 students
Our Approach

The Susan Wayne Center for Excellence constantly strives to utilize new and promising practices and incorporate these innovations into our strength-based, individualized, whole-person approach to students under our care.

We regularly review promising research, and pursue evidence-based, developmentally-appropriate interventions. Innovative programs include adventure-based therapy, pet therapy, and equine therapy. We also offer Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART) an intervention geared at meeting our students’ unique sensory input needs

We keep family-centered values at the forefront of our work, supporting family contact, visits, and family therapy as frequently as is appropriate for the child and their caregivers. We also hold a variety of family-friendly events and festivals. Ultimately, we believe that lifelong connections and relationships are a critical component of treatment, and strive to uphold this value in all that we do.


Small farm with goats in a fenced enclosure.Six people playing basketball in a well-lit gymnasium.
Group of people smiling and eating together at a table in a bright room with large windows.
Three people with therapy balls in a room, engaging in conversation. ▶
More About Us
Learn more about our approach.

Clinical Services

SWCE approaches its clinical services through the lens of a trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment model called Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC). The ARC framework is designed for youth with complex trauma from early childhood to adolescence, as well as for their caregivers or caregiving systems.

Medical Services

The Susan Wayne Center of Excellence nursing team works in partnership with all other departments, students, families, local medical groups, specialists, along with our APRN. This model of medical case management allows our nursing staff to understand and communicate a more nuanced view of a student’s physical health and how it integrates with or manifests mental health, behavior, and developmental challenges. Our nurses also work individually with students using a coach/mentoring model to engage and help them build skills for self-care.

DeMarco Adventure Course

The DeMarco Adventure Course, located at the Susan Wayne Center of Excellence, is a dynamic ropes course designed to foster growth, resilience, and connection among the youth. Integrating Adventure-based Counseling with JRI’s trauma-informed ARC clinical model, the course features both high and low ropes elements that promote self-esteem, teamwork, and positive social interaction. Participants engage in safe, structured therapeutic exercises that encourage experimentation, risk-taking, and personal achievement.

Our Team

No team members found.

I'm very grateful for all the work you guys did with (my son). It seems to have been a turning point for him (even with his setback last fall he's still in a MUCH better place than before he went through your program). I can't speak highly enough about JRI-Susan Wayne Center of Excellence and about the ARC model! Thank you for all you do!!

Parent of Former Student

Frequently Asked Questions
Referral Information

Referrals come from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families or Public School Districts.

Let's Connect

Ryan Gagne

Program Director

(860) 928-5900 ext. 42520

[email protected]

75 Church Street, Thompson, CT 06277

Request More Information
Request More 
Information

For assistance determining which programs or services will meet your individualized needs, please fill out the form below. Our service navigator will reach out about your inquiry via phone, text, or email. If you have a question regarding a particular program, please contact the program director listed in the Let’s Connect box above.

Please note that this form is not HIPAA-compliant. We urge you not to include protected health information.

(860) 928-5900

[email protected]

75 Church Street
Thompson, CT 06277

Request More Information

For assistance determining which programs or services will meet your individualized need, please fill out the form below. Our Service Navigator will reach out to you about your inquiry via phone, text, or email. If you have a question regarding a particular program, please contact the Program Director listed in the “Let’s Connect” box above. 

Please note that this form is not HIPAA compliant.  We urge you not to include protected health information.

What is your preferred method of communication?


Request More Information
Request More 
Information

For assistance determining which programs or services will meet your individualized needs, please fill out the form below. Our service navigator will reach out about your inquiry via phone, text, or email. If you have a question regarding a particular program, please contact the program director listed in the Let’s Connect box above.

Please note that this form is not HIPAA-compliant. We urge you not to include protected health information.

(860) 928-5900

[email protected]

75 Church Street
Thompson, CT 06277

Request More Information

For assistance determining which programs or services will meet your individualized need, please fill out the form below. Our Service Navigator will reach out to you about your inquiry via phone, text, or email. If you have a question regarding a particular program, please contact the Program Director listed in the “Let’s Connect” box above. 

Please note that this form is not HIPAA compliant.  We urge you not to include protected health information.

What is your preferred method of communication?


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Joint Commission International Quality Approval gold seal.
JRI's intensive residential treatment programs, clinics, and community-based services are accredited by the Joint Commission. JRI's residential schools, group homes, day habilitation and Huntington at Symphony are accredited by CARF.
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