Sequel Youth and Family Services

Last updated
Sequel Youth and Family Services
FoundedApril 19, 1992;32 years ago (1992-04-19) Clarinda, Iowa, United States [1]
Headquarters
Huntsville, Alabama
Key people
John "Jay" Ripley [2]
Revenue$154,000,000
Number of employees
about 2,500 [3]

Sequel Youth and Family Services is a private for-profit operator of behavioral healthcare facilities for children and youth in the United States. The company is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama and owns a nationwide network of over 40 facilities in more than 15 states, including residential treatment centers, group homes, special schools, and community-based programs. [4]

Contents

History

Sequel Youth and Family Services were formed out of Youth Services International (YSI), a for-profit juvenile corrections company. Adam Shapiro and John "Jay" Ripley, who both worked for YSI, co-founded Sequel Youth and Family Services in 1999 and currently serve as co-chairmen on the company's board.

Sequel was initially founded to operate Clarinda Academy, a youth residential facility in Clarinda, Iowa. [5] Sequel has expanded over the years by acquiring various youth facilities across the country, including some former YSI facilities. [6]

In September 2009, Sequel Youth and Family Services acquired Three Springs Inc. (TSI), an operator of youth behavioral health facilities based in Huntsville, Alabama. [7]

In September 2017, the private equity firm Altamont Capital acquired a majority stake in Sequel Youth and Family Services. [8]

In September 2021, Ripley formed Vivant Behavioral Healthcare to "buy a majority of the business of Sequel Youth & Family Services." [9] [10]

Criticism and controversies

Abuse

There have been a number of cases of abuse at Sequel facilities. [11] [12]

In mid 2019, the firm closed Mount Pleasant Academy and Red Rock Canyon School both in St. George, Utah after press reports of sexual abuse and a riot at the Red Rock Canyon facility. [13] Ten members of staff at the Red Rock Canyon School had been charged with child abuse. [14]

In 2019, the state of Oregon brought home all foster children it sent to out-of-state Sequel facilities. [15]

In April 2020, 16-year-old Cornelius Frederick was killed by staff at the now-closed Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo. As a result of the death, the company lost its license to operate in the state and facility was closed. [16]

In February 2021, the company announced it would close the Clarinda Academy in Iowa. The school, which operated under a contract with the Iowa Department of Human Services, faced charges of rape of children, beatings, and indefinite use of solitary confinement. [17]

In March 2021, a staff member at the Falcon Ridge Academy in Virgin, Utah was arrested on charges of sexual battery. This school is designed to help girls suffering from the results of sexual trauma. [18]

In July 2021, the state of California brought home all foster children it sent to out-of-state Sequel facilities. [19]

Closed facilities

As of 2021, the following Sequel-owned facilities have closed: [20]

Facilities

In 2021, Sequel ran the following facilities: [21]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Business Entities Search". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Bloomberg" . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Sequel Youth & Family Services LLC". D&B Business Directory. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Sequel Youth and Family Services Mission | Youth Behavioral Health Treatment". Sequel Youth and Family Services. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  5. ↑ Dake, Curtis Gilbert and Lauren. "More than 40 states have sent their most vulnerable kids to facilities run by a for-profit company named Sequel. Many of those kids were abused there". www.apmreports.org. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  6. ↑ Swisher, Skyler. "Troubled Palm Beach County juvenile facility taken over; more changes urged". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  7. ↑ "Sequel Youth & Family Services Acquires Three Springs | Mergr". mergr.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  8. ↑ "Healthcare | Categories | Altamont Capital Partners". www.altamontcapital.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  9. ↑ "About". CYWP Fund. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  10. ↑ "Arizona Corporation Commission". ecorp.azcc.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  11. ↑ "They make millions by operating youth facilities. But children allege rampant abuse". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  12. ↑ Dake, Curtis Gilbert and Lauren. "More than 40 states have sent their most vulnerable kids to facilities run by a for-profit company named Sequel. Many of those kids were abused there". www.apmreports.org. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  13. ↑ Rood, Lee (18 July 2019). "Firm accused of abusing troubled teens in Iowa, elsewhere under fire again". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  14. ↑ Miller, Jessica (15 July 2018). "Embattled company to close a second Utah treatment center for troubled teens". Salt Lake City Tribune. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  15. ↑ Drake, Lauren (20 November 2019). "Out-Of-State Business That Housed NW Foster Youth Wants To Open In Oregon". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  16. ↑ Boldrey, Ryan (2 April 2021). "Closed Kalamazoo youth home where teen died is focus of MSNBC special". M Live. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  17. ↑ Sahouri, Andrea May (5 February 2021). "Clarinda Academy closing after years of alleged abuse, sexual assault of teens". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  18. ↑ Bancroft, Kaitlyn (11 March 2021). "Employee at teen behavior facility arrested for sexual battery, showing porn to minors". Saint George Spectrum & Daily News. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  19. ↑ "Child abuse investigation leads to law banning faraway treatment programs". Los Angeles Times. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  20. ↑ Gilbert, Curtis. "Sequel confronts more abuse allegations amid concerns about its finances". www.apmreports.org. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  21. ↑ "Locations". Sequel Youth and Family Services. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
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