Youth Villages Germaine Lawrence holds cookout


Youth Villages Germaine Lawrence campus held its first Community Cookout on June 30 during which the Arlington Police Department and approximately 20 neighbors met the staff and girls on campus, participated in games and watched dance and skit performances.

“We are so grateful and happy that so many neighbors and police officers took the time to visit our campus and meet our girls and staff,” said Campus Director Jannelle Roberts.

“We care for girls with complex behavioral and mental health challenges. Having the support and understanding of our neighbors and the community is important to the success of the girls’ treatment.”

Officer Steve Conroy surprised the crowd by participating in the dunk tank attraction. The girls dropped the officer, dressed in his uniform, into the water-filled tank several times. Inspector James Smith and Officers Alex Stotik and David Martin also attended.

Photo captions

1. Among guests and staff were, from left, neighbor Jeaneen Hayes, Campus Director Jannelle Roberts, Arlington Police Officer Steve Conroy, Youth Villages New England Executive Director Matt Stone, Assistant Director of Clinical Services Jami Langley, and neighbors Dee Allen and Bita Meikh.
2. Arlington Police Officer Steve Conroy exits the dunk tank.
3. Police officers Alex Stotik (left) and Dave Martin celebrate the success of the event with one of the girls on campus.

About Youth Villages

Youth Villages New England is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with the most serious emotional and behavioral challenges and their families live successfully. The organization provides intensive in-home services and its YVLifeSet™ program for youth aging out of foster care throughout Massachusetts from offices in Arlington, Lawrence, Plymouth, Springfield, Woburn and Worcester. It offers residential programs for girls on its Germaine Lawrence Campus in Arlington. The organization also provides intensive in-home services from its office in Manchester, N.H. Youth Villages’ Evidentiary Family Restoration® approach involves intensive work with the child and family, a focus on measuring outcomes, keeping children in the community whenever safely possible and providing unprecedented accountability to families and funders.