I was banging and kicking on the door, trying to get someones attention, he said. They did not return our calls . Violence, Often Instigated by Staff, Has Become Common at Red Rock Canyon School in St. George for Troubled Children. Kids that are already damaged, been through enough in their life, to go somewhere thats supposed to help them, help them become productive members of society, and go there and then it just destroys them.. You may qualify to participate in a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit if: Over 140,000 Exactech hip, knee and ankle implants have been recalled due to packaging errors that can lead to the breakdown of parts vital to the devices function. In 2020, 16-year-old Cornelius Frederick died after he was reportedly smothered to death by Sequel employees in Michigan after he threw a sandwich. Iowa's Department of Corrections rents buildings and land to its owner, Sequel Youth and Family Services. Both Altamont and Sequel said the sale would help Sequel expand to serve more children. Thank you for everything. After their release, they stayed in touch and fell in love, they said. Sequel declined to comment on Hunters case and his familys lawsuit. 4. Many of the children served by Sequel are victims with traumatic histories. In a statement, Sparkman wrote that the agency investigates allegations and that subsequent investigation records are confidential based on Alabama law.. Laurie Broadrick, 19, arrived at Owens Cross Roads, a residential treatment facility for girls in northeast Alabama, in 2016. Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional & Psychological Abuse. Sequel Youth & Family Services provides a broad spectrum of treatment programs to people of all ages with behavioral, emotional, and physical challenges. They still struggle with anxieties, nightmares and the feeling that theyre behind their peers. The company collected over $200 million in annual revenue at the time, he said, and turned about $30 million in profit, which he attributed to keeping staffing costs low. You may be eligible to file a Tylenol Autism ADHD Lawsuit / Acetaminophen Autism ADHD Claim if you or a loved one used Tylenol and/ or Acetaminophen during pregnancy, and your child was subsequently diagnosed with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Sequel Youth & Family Services, once one of the nation's largest operators of treatment centers for children with behavioral problems, plans to close three more facilities, including its flagship academy, continuing the company's contraction in the past two years amid wide-spread reports of abuse.. University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR. Washington, California, Oregon and Minnesota stopped sending kids to the companys treatment centers. But some of Sequels operations are continuing under new ownership. Use the CB Insights Platform to explore Sequel Youth and Family Services's full profile. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 2, 2022 at 8:08 PM PDT. In the past three weeks, Sequel announced plans to shutter Clarinda Academy in Clarinda . Even states without a Sequel location, including California, Oregon and Washington, have done so. Learn more about hospital sexual abuse lawsuits from our team of attorneys. 38% of employees would recommend working at Sequel Youth & Family Services to a friend and 28% have a positive outlook for the business. 2.9. Falcon Ridge Academy, where these crimes occurred, is meant to house teenage girls with behavioral issues usually resulting from trauma. If you have been abused at a Sequel Youth and Family Services facility, or a similar facility, contact our experienced team of attorneys today to learn more about your legal rights. How can the same people continue to be trusted with what they say are the most vulnerable kids that we have? But the next year, advocates for people with disabilities started to raise alarm about the way Sequel allegedly treated children. Everything you need to know about the Disney California Cookware / 16 hours ago Video Shows Fatal Restraint of Cornelius Frederick, 16, in Michigan Foster Facility. Sequel Youth and Family Services, the company that runs Lakeside (and is also a named defendant in the lawsuit), operates at least 55 other facilities from Arizona to Maine. Kate Snow is a national correspondent for NBC News. Oregon state Senator Sara Gelser has spent years demanding accountability for Sequel, and she is continuing the crusade against Vivant. The Alabama Department of Human . The state pays Sequel Youth and Family Services about $330 per day, per child, the lawsuit states. A typical day consisted of supervising juvenile males aged 13-18, during their daily activities including school, groups, meal times, hygiene, etc. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from an Exactech implant device, you may be entitled to financial compensation. In Alabama Vivants application for a business registration was signed by Ripleys daughter, Christine Aron, who previously served as Sequels vice president of business development. Records show that about two weeks later, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner forwarded two new contracts with Sequel to Alabama Gov. The operation housed a significant number of children from Oregon, which stopped sending them to Sequel treatment centers in 2020. 137. "At Sequel Youth & Family Services, we have dedicated our careers to helping this nation's most vulnerable youth. He watched through a window as children made their way to class. Sequel treatment centers closed since 2017. In Alabama, where Sequel is headquartered, records reveal that reports of troubling conditions in the companys facilities have been made to state agencies for years, including mandatory child abuse and injury reports and whistleblower accounts by former Sequel employees. Overall rating. Last August, Sequels Pompano Youth Treatment Center failed a state inspection that found a range of deficiencies at the 24-bed Florida treatment center. A number of new lawsuits are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities. Sequel often receives government funding to take in youth residents from both the foster care system and juvenile justice system. The latest Sequel treatment centers to close are in Idaho, Florida, and Iowa, all of which had been under government scrutiny in recent years. Pros. The company kept growing by taking over other youth facilities and programs, fueled by investments from a handful of private equity firms. The advocacy organizations monitors interviewed about 100 children, some as young as 12, and documented their findings in a report this summer. She was taken to a psychiatric hospital, where, she said, you get emotional help that you would actually need, rather than just four walls and people screaming at you and a very hostile environment.. They also did a nice job keeping us updated with the case throughout the process. Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and California have also either shut the facilities or are ending their relationships with Sequel Youth and Family Services in wake of concern around the abuse. A residential school operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services is set to permanently shutdown its operations. At Kingston Academy in Tennessee, state inspectors found mold infestations, overflowing toilets and children sleeping on mattresses on the floor. In 2017, when a private equity firm bought a controlling stake in Sequel Youth & Family Services, it had 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. 1 (July 2, 2020) (hereinafter "ADAP"). The company later said in an email that in cases where a child's safety is threatened, "we take all necessary actions from employee termination, to policy and process changes, to staff-wide retraining to ensure we live up to our high standards of care for the youth we serve.". Red Rock Canyon School, another Sequel-ran facility, closed in 2019 after reports of abuse surfaced and a riot among residents ensued, resulting in area SWAT teams responding. The facilities at the heart of the issue are run by Sequel Youth and Family Services. Sequel disputes the findings and the facility remains open. I guess we just lifted each other up.. What Caused Camp Lejeune Water Contamination? Hunter is now receiving psychiatric treatment at a hospital, she said. The company told investors it was well positioned to serve as industry consolidator, thanks in part to its clean regulatory and litigation history.. The report included photographic proof of the Dickensian conditions that the states most vulnerable children were forced to live in: broken doors, missing floor tiles, blood smeared on the walls and thin mattresses laid on top of concrete platforms. Sequel Youth and Family Services received nearly $9 million in reimbursement payments from the state of Michigan in 2019, according to the state. She said that most allegations made by children, staff and advocates end up being unsubstantiated, but that the company has zero tolerance for abuse and immediately reports allegations of wrongdoing to state oversight agencies. Enjoy a rewarding career where you can gain new skills and build your career with the guidance of a mentor. 95. 2. Sequel received little public attention before Altamont took control of it in 2017, but state regulators reported serious problems at its facilities before the private equity firm took control. The defendants, Lakeside Academy and Sequel Youth and Family Services the company that supplied the academy with management services and staff members declined to comment on the lawsuit . Instead, it responded with a written statement saying, Jay Ripley and his family formed Vivant with the goal to help youth and adult consumers of behavioral health services and that the company was committed to providing ethical and quality treatment services to its clients and their families and communities.. Sequel employees have also faced criminal charges for abuse. The records revealed reports of child abuse and injury reports had been made to state agencies in Alabama, yet the facilities would still pass inspections. Her family couldnt afford private care options that cost up to $4,000 a month, but social workers determined Lauries needs were so great that she qualified for state care. You may be eligible to file a Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit if you or a loved one used chemical hair straighteners, hair relaxers, or other similar hair products, and subsequently were diagnosed with: Over one million people, who were present at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) between 1953 and 1987, may have been exposed to toxic substances in the water. Their team of personal injury lawyers are experienced, personable, and well versed in a range of litigation areas. The same facility will reopen under a new name with new services while an attorney prepares to file another lawsuit against the facility. The attorneys and staff at THL worked hard, communicated every step of the process, kept me well informed at all times, and exceeded all expectations! Steve and the entire staff were friendly and professional. Sequel is playing hide the ball, and theyre trying to avoid accountability and responsibility for [what they did] to these children and our clients, said Tommy James, an attorney in Birmingham, Alabama, who has three suits pending against Sequel facilities now controlled by Vivant. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In response to a list of questions laying out the findings of the APM Reports investigation, the company issued a lengthy written statement. As recently as November, Sequel garnered attention when it announced the sudden closure of its Bernalillo Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which treated youths with behavioral and developmental challenges. TorHoerman Law is a personal injury law firm comprised of individuals who are dedicated to getting justice for those wrongfully injured by the tortious acts of others. After acquiring a new facility, Sequel uses its marketing arm to increase capacity and occupancy, as Ripley put it in a 2017 call to investors. My client lived in a house of horrors. The work load and expectations do not match the pay for the majority of the staff (even for the positions that require degrees). Last year, Tennessee, which had paid Sequel up to $608 a day per child, suspended admissions to Kingston and the states Medicaid agency terminated its contract with Sequel. Five years ago, Sequel Youth & Family Services ran a chain of treatment programs that took in and tried to help troubled kids from all over the United States. In wooing states, Sequel has an advantage: It offers to take children with the most severe challenges, who are hardest to place. Sequel markets itself as a national leader in providing specialized care for at-risk youth. The records revealed reports of child abuse and injury reports had been made to state agencies in Alabama, yet the facilities would still pass inspections. Sequel, and similar for-profit companies that run youth behavioral health centers, can be paid up to $800 a day per child they take into their facilities, turning a profit of millions each year. As of 2021, Sequel operates youth behavioral centers in 17 states. Since 2019, 10 Investigates has found at least a half dozen facilities operated by Sequel Youth Family Services that have either closed or faced other sanctions like having their admissions . Dont' waste time, contact our law offices today. Neither side disclosed the terms of the settlement. Alabama cannot wait for the death of a child before severing ties with Sequel, the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program told state agencies in its July report, which called on the state to end its contracts with Sequel and revoke the companys licenses. They helped me when I needed expert legal representation! The staff is kind, considerate, professional, and very experienced. The agency declined to explain what action it took in response to the email. On top of those attacks, the suit states, a staff member once restrained Hunter so violently that his head hit a concrete wall and reopened an existing cut, requiring stitches. Begin Your Path To Healing & Justice. On multiple occasions later in 2019, when Oregon state Sen. Sara Gelser emailed state officials demanding information about oversight of Sequel programs, government agents promptly forwarded the messages to Sequel employees for help responding. Contact us today to see if you qualify for the Paraquat Parkinsons Disease Lawsuit! Sexual abuse has also been reported in Sequel facilities and is just as unreported and undocumented as physical abuse. Since Fredericks' death, Michigan's Department of Health and Human . We're ready to fight for you. Today the Sequel brand has been removed from almost all its former treatment centers web sites. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the timeframe of Altamonts recent investments in Sequel. The company has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding and tens of millions more from private equity firms to expand to new locations, while deploying a sophisticated marketing strategy to convince state officials to send more children, despite government inspections flagging violations at Sequel locations in at least nine states, the records show. To learn more about how our law firm helps the injured, check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page. A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against a Kalamazoo youth home after a 16-year-old boy was restrained and later died earlier this year. Responsible for providing leadership to the program. Toys litter the floor at Sequel's Courtland facility. I worked at Sequel Youth & Family full-time and the best day was my last! Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the facility. 97. Sequel Youth & Family Services collected hundreds of millions in tax dollars to care for vulnerable children, despite abuse and negligence allegations. The company has offered all-expenses-paid trips to state employees to tour the companys facilities. We took the feedback from the report, we identified areas for improvement, we worked with the state to come up with a manageable plan to make those areas of improvement, Birmingham said. A wonderful and professional legal team. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Youth Services and the Alabama Department of Human Resources place at-risk children in the Sequel facility to receive medically required mental health care. He named his new business Sequel because it was his second foray into the industry. 2.8 out of 5 stars for Work/Life Balance. You can also call us at (205) 843-5086 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation. If you are representing the estate of a loved one who has died as a result of abuse, or as a result of self-harm from abuse, you may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Sequel or at-fault parties. We are passionate about what we do and delight in providing the individuals we are privileged to serve and instill permanent, positive change and propel them toward their best and full potential. Courtland was one of the last facilities Tristan Broadrick lived in before he aged out of the foster care system. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Jay Ripley speaks at the Merrick School of Business in Baltimore in 2015. The company is more dysfunctional than the clients they try to serve. Potential defendants in the Sequel Youth and Family Services abuse lawsuit may include one or more of the following parties: To best determine potential defendants, consult with an experienced attorney. , she said brand has been filed against a Kalamazoo Youth home after a 16-year-old boy was and... Consolidator, thanks in part to its clean regulatory and litigation history dollars to care for vulnerable,... Still struggle with anxieties, nightmares and the feeling that theyre behind their peers as physical abuse, Emotional Psychological. Treatment Center advocacy organizations monitors interviewed about 100 children, despite abuse and allegations. Victims with traumatic histories stopped sending kids to the companys facilities funding to in. What action it took in response to a list of questions laying out the findings of the last facilities Broadrick. Investments from a handful of private equity firms at Sequel Youth and Family Services about $ 330 per day per... 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Than the clients they try to serve more children door, trying to get attention... Growing by taking over other Youth facilities and programs, fueled by investments from handful... Two weeks later, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner forwarded two new contracts with Sequel to Alabama.... Family Services land to its clean regulatory and litigation history skills and build career! Second foray into the industry 17 states the entire staff were friendly and professional some young. In love, they said but some of Sequels operations are continuing under new ownership behind peers... All its former treatment centers you can also call us at ( 205 843-5086. Needed expert legal representation markets itself as a national correspondent for NBC News operational and closed facilities! Article misstated the timeframe of Altamonts recent investments in Sequel facilities worked at Youth...
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