NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — St. Mary’s Home for Children has announced it will be closing the George M. Hunt School on its North Providence campus as it transfers management of its remaining programs over to Tides Family Services.

The embattled organization turned over management of its residential psychiatric treatment facility in May after a report by Rhode Island’s Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) sparked a change in leadership and increased scrutiny from lawmakers, as well as the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).

Before this year, St. Mary’s had been providing “specialized educational and therapeutic residential and outpatient services” to Rhode Island’s youth since 1877, the St. Mary’s Board of Directors said in a statement.

St. Mary’s had originally planned for Tides Family Services to take over operations of the George M. Hunt school along with the rest of the organization’s outpatient programs, but that proved to be unfeasible, according to the board. Instead, the students will be transferred to Tides’ Pawtucket school.

As for the residential psychiatric treatment facility , Tides Family Services’ plan to reopen the North Providence Campus was rejected by the state, the board said. Construction on the planned expansion has been terminated as a result.

Rep. Patricia Serpa , chair of the R.I. House Oversight Committee, had strong words for DCYF.

“It was more than a little disconcerting to find out on social media that St. Mary’s was closing,” she told 12 News. “It’s important enough that we should have at least had a heads up — and we didn’t get a heads up.”

She expressed concern over the state’s plans for the children who were previously housed at St. Mary’s, which was Rhode Island’s only inpatient facility that provided both a residential environment and individualized psychiatric care to at-risk young people.

“What next?” Serpa asked. “We broke ground just last week for a 16-bed residential facility, but that won’t be ready for at least another year and a half and it’s specifically for girls. St. Mary’s Home is for young men and young women.”

“This is critical. This is not small potatoes,” she continued. “This is a big deal. I’m going to have to have an oversight meeting next month, call DCYF in and say, ‘So, what’s your plan B?'”

In a statement to 12 News, DCYF said it “appreciates Tides’ willingness to explore a partnership with St. Mary’s to maintain operations.”

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