frequently asked questions
What is the Merck Center at Germaine Lawrence?
The Merck Center is a private treatment center for girls from around the country. Girls who thrive at the Merck center are clincially complex and treatment resistant. Many have not done well at other less structured therapeutic school. some have issues that include reactive attachment disorders, eating disorders or other medical issues, clinical depression or substance abuse. We offer intensive clincial services with two master's level clinicians for each student, an accredited school and an engaging milieu and activity program.
What type of programs do you have?
Residential Education
Our residential education programs provide trauma-informed services for girls exhibiting a wide range of high risk behaviors including suicide attempts, self-injury, running away, aggression and drug or alcohol abuse. We also have specialized protocols for girls with eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual aggression, firesetting behaviors and for girls who have been abused or sexually exploited.
BTR (Behavioral Treatment Residence)
Our BTR program provides therapeutic treatment and a structured living environment for girls who are able to continue at their community school during the day. We provide numerous opportunities for community and family involvement to help girls make successful transitions to their home or other less restrictive setting.
Group Home
The ACT Group Home serves girls who have been, or at risk for being commercially sexually exploited. The group home offers therapeutic services in a warm, nurturing environment to help girls develop a positive identity, healthy connections to their family and community, and skills to live a healthy and independent lifestyle.
Short Term Services
We provide contracted STARR (Stabilization, Assessment and Rapid Reunification) services and short-term CBAT (Community-Based Acute Treatment) services for girls requiring acute care. The program provides comprehensive assessment services and clear recommendations for future service plans. We offer a flexible array of services to meet the child and familiy's needs.
For information about openings at any of our programs, contact Kristin Vander Els, 781-648-6200x127.
How long do girls stay at Germaine Lawrence and how is the length of stay determined?
The average length of stay at Germaine Lawrence is 7 to 12 months, except for our short-term programs, in which girls usually stay for three months or less. How long a student stays depends on how long it takes her to reach her goals. After a student has been at Germaine Lawrence for forty five days there is a Treatment Planning meeting which includes the Germaine Lawrence treatment team, the student, her parents/family and funding representatives. A treatment plan with clear goals is developed at this meeting. Treatment meetings then take place every three months to review progress towards reaching these goals. Once a student has met their goals discharge planning begins.
Who are the staff that will be involved in a student’s treatment?
There are a team of staff who are involved in a student’s treatment. They include the following:
- Certified teachers
- Master's level clinicians
- Residential counselors
- Board certified psychiatrists
- Other professionals as needed
All staff work together to ensure an integrated approach to your daughter's treatment. All staff are available to assist parents, and family members, in understanding Germaine Lawrence as well as receiving current information about a particular student.
Do you provide individual therapy?
Individual therapy is provided on a weekly basis. In therapy, the student will examine her behaviors, as well as some of the underlying issues that may have affected her ability to make good decisions and life choices. Individual therapy also helps the students plan for a successful transition from GLS, including identifying future goals and prevention plans for the challenges she will face when back in the community.
Do you provide family therapy?
Family therapy takes place at least every other week. Initially, the focus of therapy is to help the family members connect with Germaine Lawrence and feel comfortable as they too learn about our program. The Treatment Coordinator also uses family therapy to gather information of the student’s history as well as identify family focused treatment goals. As treatment continues the focus of family therapy will shift to identifying ways the student and her family can strengthen their relationship and improve family communication and functioning. It is the experience of Germaine Lawrence that family involvement is a important part of our student’s success in treatment, both while at GLS and after they transition from the program. In order to assist parents in being involved parent orientation, support groups and special events are held throughout the course of a student’s treatment.
What types of group therapy are offered?
All students participate in group therapy four times a week.
Group therapy topics include:
- Survivors Group for sexual abuse victims
- Cycles Group helps girls learn about their behaviors and ways to change them
- New Games uses activities to promote individual self esteem and team building
- Adoption Group
- Violence Prevention
- Children of Alcoholics
- Expressive Art Therapy
How is your school program designed?
Our comprehensive, licensed special education program allows each student’s needs to be met on an individual basis.
The educational team at Germaine Lawrence fulfills the educational requirements set by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks while at the same time providing a learning experience that promotes a life long love of learning.
Students are assigned to a team of two teachers and two teacher’s assistants. Each teacher focuses on particular academic areas allowing them to become experts on that subject, but at the same time allowing for overlapping skills between subjects.
Class periods are from sixty to ninety minutes long allowing additional time for discussion, exploration and cross subject instruction. A key area of focus is hands on, project based course work. Each classroom has up to ten students with a Teacher and a Teacher’s Assistant, allowing for individual academic and behavioral needs to be addressed.
There are also School Counselors available to assist students in need of one-on-one attention or who may be experiencing behavioral problems. Students focus on academic skills as well as working on developing appropriate classroom behavior, increasing their attention and concentration abilities and preparing to transition to a less structured classroom setting upon discharge.
The Academic Program also offers a Culinary Arts, Visual Arts and Activity Program.
The Culinary Arts Program allows students to gain vocational skills by preparing and serving lunch for the campus. This program also caters special events at Germaine Lawrence.
The Visual Arts Program emphasizes the importance of self expression as part of the student’s treatment. Students with strong visual art talents are encouraged to seek their own level of expression, and students who struggle with artistic expression are given opportunities to find success. The results of the student's efforts can be seen throughout the Administrative/School buildings on Campus.
The Activity Program expands traditional Physical Education to include activities based within both the school and residential program. Students are involved in a variety of physical exercise including utilizing the fitness room , participating in team sports (softball, volleyball, basketball, etc.) and cooperative team building activities.
What type of behavior management system do you use for consequences and privileges?
Germaine Lawrence uses PEM – the PyschoEducational Model – a research-proven model designed to help students make responsible choices. Counselors praise students richly for practicing new skills. They provide support by listening empathically. They engage with them and make sure they are learning and having fun every day.
Do you have restrictions for new students? What about later on in treatment?
Usually a new student will have some restrictions for at least the first 7 to 45 days. While these restrictions will vary between programs and the individual student's needs, typically they include shoes [staff hold student's shoes unless she needs to walk outside], open door [bedroom door must be open unless changing], common room [must be in staff sight at all times] and campused [cannot go off campus].
After this initial period of restrictions, a student is placed on restrictions if her behaviors places her at risk to hurt herself or others. For example, a student who may be planning to run away would be placed on a shoe restriction for a specific amount of time.
Who monitors medication? Is there a nurse or doctor?
There is a school nurse available seven days/weekand a doctor is on call 24 hours a day.
A physician visits the program once a week to provide routine medical care.
There is also a psychiatrist on call 24 hours a day, and in the program weekly, to review all psychotropic medication. Germaine Lawrence has affiliations with Children’s Hospital to provide these medical services.
If there is an emergency the school nurse and an administrator are notified. Parents/guardians are also notified by Germaine Lawrence staff. Germaine Lawrence utilizes both Winchester Hospital and Children’s Hospital for emergency care.
All staff are trained in basic first aid techniques as well as given medical information pertaining to an individual student’s medical needs. The Germaine Lawrence program makes every effort to ensure that effective and efficient medical attention is received by all of its students.
Who can visit and how is visitation arranged?
All students at Germaine Lawrence are encouraged and assisted in visiting their home, foster home or relatives. These visits are negotiated by parents, Germaine Lawrence staff and funding agencies, on an individual basis depending on a student’s treatment plan.
In most cases students start off with visits on campus and slowly move to longer visits in the community and then at home.
Relatives, Social Workers, Lawyers, etc. are encouraged to give the program twenty four hour notification prior to visiting.The Treatment Coordinator will also maintain weekly phone contact to discuss how visits have gone, answer any questions and continue to provide support for all family members.
Can students receive mail and how does this work?
Mail is delivered each day and staff bring it back to the program. All correspondence should be addressed as follows:
Germaine Lawrence School
c/o Student’s name
Program name
18 Claremont Ave.
Arlington, MA 02476
Do you allow smoking?
Germaine Lawrence is a no-smoking facility. This means that there is no smoking permitted on Germaine Lawrence Property. Staff and visiting adults may smoke off the property.
Because purchasing cigarettes is against the law for children under 18 years old Germaine Lawrence does not permit any student to have smoking material in their possession, while on the Germaine Lawrence property, or on a Germaine Lawrence sponsored activity. Students who have smoking materials will have these smoking materials confiscated and destroyed.
No staff may give students smoking materials. No students may purchase smoking materials while with a Germaine Lawrence employee. Students who are 18 or over may possess smoking materials but must follow the same smoking rules that apply to adults.
What should we bring with us to the admission?
The following is a basic guideline of minimum requirements of what a student may bring with her to the Germaine Lawrence School:
BASIC CLOTHING:
several pair of underwear ((7-10)
bras (2-3)
Socks ((5-7 pair)
Daily clothes: jeans, shirts, t-shirts, shorts, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc.
Sneakers
Other shoes
pajamas
robe
slippers
winter boots
mittens
spring coat/jacket
winter coat/jacket
winter hat
swimming suit
One special occasion outfit, if possible
OTHER (if needed the following items can be provided by program)2 sets of towels
2 sets of sheets
pillow
blanket
toothbrush
toothpaste
deodorant
shampoo, hair products
soap
feminine hygiene products
alarm clock
appropriate posters or other items for decorating room
books (put names inside)
hobby materials
tapes/cd’s
Please make sure student’s name is on all belongings at admission.
The following items are not allowed:
TV sets
pets
expensive stereo systems
expensive jewelry
no knives or weapons
no cigarettes, matches or lighters in the programs or school
Money should be given directly to Program staff unless
otherwise approved