NEWS
McLEAN PARENTS PROTEST TEEN REHAB CENTER Community meeting held to discuss rehabilitation center on Davidson Road
LAINE PHILLIPS NEWS EDITOR TAYLOR OLSON A&E EDITOR
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cLean has always been known as one of the safest communities around the county. However, according to parents, this is going to change because of the upcoming establishment of drug rehabilitation centers on Davidson Road. Due to parents’ rising concerns, on April 24, over 600 people attended a meeting in the McLean High School auditorium regarding the transition of four residential homes near McLean High School into teen rehab programs. The Newport Academy is a rehabilitation facility for children ages 12 to 17 with mental illnesses and substance abuse issues. The four homes purchased for the center are located on Davidson and Kurtz Road in McLean. The people who attended the meeting had a range of opinions, yet after every comment, the opposition seemed to grow. Concerns included traffic and overall safety. “You’re going to have 30, 40, 50 additional cars, [with] people who don’t live here, who aren’t going to be worried about my three boys who ride their scooters…and their bikes [near the road],” said Marc Lampkin, a parent who lives in the area, gaining him a long period of applause from the audience. Concerned parents often referred to criminal incidents involving Newport Academy patients in Connecticut. These incidents involved students carjacking and stealing vodka bottles from a local bar. However,
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Jamison Monroe, founder and CEO of Newport Academy, insisted that he has tightened security on the homes. “My concern is that no matter how well prepared [the Newport Academy staff] is, something [bad] will happen, so my question is why not care for these wonderful youngsters who need help away from heavy residential areas,” a distressed citizen said at the April 24 meeting. Parents created a petition on Change.org against the group home, urging citizens to “say NO to Newport rehab in McLean.” “While we recognize the need for such centers, [the] petition is to stop them from operating in [a] residential neighborhood and next to Lewinsville park,” said Sanjay Singh, creater of the petition. Despite the vocal opposition, some were in support of the rehabilitation center. “I just want to encourage compassion... these are just kids. My daughter was one of these children. She was sexually assaulted and almost committed suicide. Newport Academy saved [her] life,” a woman at the meeting said. Seconds later, she was interrupted by a stream of boos. According to Monroe, the facilities were placed in a residential area as a way to improve a patient’s time spent in the treatment facility. “There is a big movement to provide services at a community level because all the evidence shows that treatment [close to home] will lead to better outcomes,” Monroe said. According to Fairfax County Attorney Beth Teare, since the facilities are being
built in a residential area, they do not need to get a zoning permit. This is a result of the Federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination against anyone who is disabled, including those with mental illness. Despite its legality, the Academy is causing problems within the McLean community, due to Newport Academy’s utilization of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to keep the homes secret from the community. These are primarily used to keep business and trade secrets confidential. “Everyone can tolerate [a rehab center], where it was done in [the] open. [But the Newport Academy has done it in a way that is] above the community, in a secretive way, by [opening] four within a mile of each other,” Lampkin said. Monroe admitted that he was unaware of this issue. “I do not know why we had the NDA nor do I know who signed the NDA,” Monroe said. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member John Foust also expressed his worries. “I do not support three houses on the same site,” Foust said, “but it is the law—we do not see a way to stop it.” The McLean community has united against the Newport Academy in an attempt to force out the rehabilitation center using a Facebook group along with the petition. “My kids [safely] walk up and down the street, and this is going to change because [the Newport Academy] doesn’t live here and [they] are going to extract the money and we will be left with the problem,” Lampkin said.
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