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'I am alive because of' Germaine Lawrence girls' home, former residents say

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ARLINGTON, Mass. — A residential program in Arlington for girls with emotional and behavioral issues is shutting down.

Youth Villages' Germaine Lawrence Campus says it is hoping to find placements for more than 40 girls in the program by the beginning of the school year.

Since Boston 25 News first reported the closure Friday, former residents are sharing their experiences and hoping to save the program or have someone else take it over.

“I am alive because of the women that worked here -- the women that lived here,” former resident Amanda Peterson said. “The structure of the program and them just not giving up on me or any of the girls that lived there.”

Peterson was devastated when she learned Youth Villages was closing their residential program at the Germaine Lawrence campus to expand its community-based programming.

Peterson is a graduate of the program that now serves over 40 girls with severe emotional and behavioral issues.

“I feel like I survived my adolescence because of my experience here and I know there are a number of young women here today who are now being asked to be somewhere else,” a former resident named Andrea said. “And who knows what that will mean for them lifelong -- and certainly in the short term.”

Andrea did not want to be further identified for this story, but she graduated Germaine Lawrence along with Amanda Peterson.

The two women reached out to Boston 25 News and came back to the Arlington campus for answers.

They started a petition to keep the program from closing or raise the funds to move it elsewhere.

“I don’t think I would have made it in a community-based environment. That’s why this program was here and is here for girls that cannot function in a community based situation,” Peterson said.

One of the biggest concerns former residents have is the tight timeline. Youth Villages aims to relocate all 43 girls by the start of the school year.

Boston 25 News asked Youth Villages for a more specific reason for closing -- including any financial motivation.

The organization referred back to their original statement, saying Youth Villages is looking to expand its community programming.” A spokesperson told Boston 25 News the organization believes it can be more effective than the residential program.

“I don’t think you can do that in a day setting or a community setting,” former instructor Mary Ann Parkhurst said. “Because you’re talking about completely immersing and removing any of the exposure that the girls had in the past. So, you’re pulling them out of an environment that could possibly be toxic.”

Experts in the field -- including former Germaine Lawrence teacher Mary Ann Parkhurst – told Boston 25 News the number of beds comparable to those at Germaine Lawrence are scarce.

The Department of Children and Families does not disclose the exact number of children in DCF custody residing in specific programs, but said Monday several provider agencies have already come forward to help relocate the girls.

“That these girls will go to safe environments, not rushed environments,” Peterson said is what she hopes for. “Homes that are unsafe, or foster care that isn’t appropriate, or hospitals – [those] aren’t good settings for them.”

Boston 25 News has learned Youth Villages’ other residential programs in Georgia and Tennessee will remain open.

MORE: State stepping in as residential program for girls prepares to shut down

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