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 for showing pornography to minors and spanking 4 patients. [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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