SHERIDAN Normative Services Academy, Inc. will close its doors March 22 "after an evaluation of viability of the Normative Services program," according to a press release sent Wednesday morning by NSI Executive Director Clayton Carr. You may be eligible to file a Tepezza Lawsuit if you or a loved one took Tepezza and subsequently suffered permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. Courtland was one of the last facilities Tristan Broadrick lived in before he aged out of the foster care system. Tevin did not feel safe at Sequel Tuskegee. Vivant is using the change of ownership to fight litigation against the treatment centers formerly owned by Sequel. Laurie and Tristan Broadrick are expecting their first child. Their team of personal injury lawyers are experienced, personable, and well versed in a range of litigation areas. Tristan, now 18, was placed into foster care on his 12th birthday and bounced between group homes until 2018, when he landed at Tuskegee, an intensive psychiatric treatment facility. He was physically restrained by workers putting their full body weight on his torso, leading to a cardiac arrest and his death two days later. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Parents, guardians, and the state expect these children to have positive peer culture, get back on track with school, and have intensive therapy. I just want people to be held accountable, Patricia said. Falcon Ridge Academy, where these crimes occurred, is meant to house teenage girls with behavioral issues usually resulting from trauma. A National Alliance Of Sexual Abuse Lawyers, Proud Members Of The Following Trusted Organizations. Sequel Youth and Family Services Lawsuit: Reports of Abuse, Independent Fundamental Baptist Resources, Disclaimer / Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy, 24/7 support with a caring legal staff dedicated to protecting your confidentiality, employees or "whistleblowers" of the facilities, Multiple children report being slammed to the ground and held facedown, One boy described his head being caught on a nail in the wall during a violent restraint, Reports of being called names, threatened, and comments such as "you gonna go to jail", Report of being in solitary confinement for 72 hours, with no access to a bathroom, Report of lack of access to medical treatment, dental treatment or eye care, Report of lack of access to clean drinking water, Lack of education, school work and career training, Filthy conditions and hazardous living conditions, Residents in inappropriate restraints without justification, and even the death of one resident at a Michigan facility. But nobody came. Sequel formerly ran the following facilities: Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Sequel Youth and Family Services, alleging abuse of all sorts and negligent behavior of staff and management. Sequel Youth and Family Services was founded in the late 1990s by former employees of Youth Services International. For children who qualify, Medicaid reimburses Sequel for medical and mental health treatment. Children at Sequels other facilities in Alabama Montgomery, Owens Cross Roads and Tuskegee also had stories to tell. Sequel Youth & Family Services specializes in treating children with mental disorders, intellectual disabilities and trauma, which makes these findings disturbing. I recall walking in and the stench was overwhelming. January 24, 2020 How Our Alabama Law Firm Investigates Nursing Home Abuse. Illuminating Journalism from American Public Media. Even states without a Sequel location, including California, Oregon and Washington, have done so. 2.8. Many states have reportedly revoked contracts with Sequel (but not Alabama). One firm, Altamont Capital Partners, which has investments in health care companies, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and clothing brands like Billabong, purchased a majority stake in Sequel for an undisclosed amount in 2017. Nearly all of Sequel's programs run on government funding: States pay Sequel $275 to more than $800 a day per child to provide residential and therapeutic services. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In wooing states, Sequel has an advantage: It offers to take children with the most severe challenges, who are hardest to place. I guess we just lifted each other up.. Clockwise from top, the latest operations to close: Mountain Home Academy in Idaho, Forest Ridge Youth Services in Iowa, Pompano Youth Treatment Center in Florida. Sequel Youth and Family Services, a Huntsville, Ala.,-based for-profit company, will run the center effective April 1, said Amanda Fortuna, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Juvenile . Many of Sequels behavioral health treatment centers are sold or closed following abuse allegations. After helping launch YSI, Ripley became the chief executive of Precision Tune Auto Care. Based on 511 reviews. 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. Look no further, call now! They contacted me the next day. California, Maryland, Oregon and Washington have also stopped placing children in programs run by the company. 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. After NBC News presented Sequel with a list of questions this month, Birmingham visited two of the companys Alabama facilities, and said she found that The kids were very happy. She said she encourages staff members to report any concerns about misconduct to a company hotline so Sequel can ensure no child is abused in its care. Violence, Often Instigated by Staff, Has Become Common at Red Rock Canyon School in St. George for Troubled Children. Cornelius tragic death has been a watershed moment for the fight against abuse in these facilities. Ripley did not return a voicemail message seeking comment, and Altamont didnt answer an email inquiry. For more of NBC News' in-depth reporting, download the NBC News app. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. You deserve to be heard and we believe you. 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. He said the attorney for the Sequel Youth Services of Michigan has refused to provide the Fredericks family the video of the incident that resulted in the teen's death. You can also sue facility staff members who are no longer working for Sequel. Sequel markets itself as a national leader in providing specialized care for at-risk youth. Attorney Tommy James has a record of helping individuals file lawsuits for compensation against those who have harmed them. Both of his eyes are black; one is swollen shut. Anytime that our clients are not getting the highest quality care that they deserve is an opportunity for improvement.. Officials at Sequel Youth & Family Services did not respond to requests for comment on the Oct. 14 report. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and damages. Lawsuit: Teen screamed 'I can't breathe' during restraint WEST . Tax dollars are being used ultimately to abuse and mistreat children who are in need of serious therapeutic services, and weve sent them to these services for that, said K. Ricky Watson Jr., head of the National Juvenile Justice Network, which has advocated against for-profit juvenile detention. That means sending out marketing agents to get more states to send children to its facilities. Ask a Question. Sequel subsequently closed the facility. 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.". Records show that about two weeks later, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner forwarded two new contracts with Sequel to Alabama Gov. Laurie Broadrick, 19, arrived at Owens Cross Roads, a residential treatment facility for girls in northeast Alabama, in 2016. To learn more about how our law firm helps the injured, check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page. Then children began to talk. If you or a loved one suffered harm while in a Sequel facility in Alabama or in another state, you should promptly seek the advice of an Alabama lawyer, or a lawyer in your state, who may investigate your Sequel claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a lawsuit against Sequel, if appropriate. In the two years since the incident, Sequel shut down 11 of those centers, which followed six closures in 2019. Work/Life Balance. Enter your email below to receive notifications of new stories. The lawsuit states the boy "had a propensity to engage in . Get a free online case evaluation and find out if you qualify for compensation instanly. That's not what we saw.". If they cant get qualified people to do their job, they need to shut them down.. Youth Counselor Supervisor (Former Employee) - Courtland, AL - August 17, 2022. The company kept growing by taking over other youth facilities and programs, fueled by investments from a handful of private equity firms. Earlier that year, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare wrote a scathing report accusing the treatment center of significant failure in staff oversight and training resulting in over 100 incidents of aberrant sexual behavior by five children over at least three months, and possibly as far back as seven months.. The firm went above and beyond. If you or a loved one suffered injuries or other damages as a result of abuse suffered while under the protective care of a Sequel youth facility you may qualify for legal action. Mr. Roussos brings nearly two decades of experience building and leading healthcare organizations with vibrant service-oriented . 38% of employees would recommend working at Sequel Youth & Family Services to a friend and 28% have a positive outlook for the business. "These are places that are supposed to provide a safe, homelike, therapeutic environment, Johnson said. Today, Sequel has all but vanished. An Altamont press release said Ripley would "remain involved with the business as chairman of the board through its next phases of growth." In December 2021, Sequel closed both locations of its Forest Ridge Youth Services treatment program in Iowa. 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. Sequel Youth and Family Services is the most notable operator of youth residential treatment facilities in the United States, and reportedly operates up to 80% of these establishments. Both options are completely confidential and completely discrete. In 2020, a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 14-year-old against the Sequel facility in north Alabama alleged that the teenager suffered long-term abuse at the hands of staff and other children residing at the facility. Our firm is about people. All rights reserved. Sequel employees have also faced criminal charges for abuse. They hope to raise awareness by speaking out. The teen's family suit against the school and the company that owns it, Sequel Youth Services, seeks $100 million, alleging negligence. If you have been exposed to Paraquat and diagnosed with Parkinsons disease may be eligible to pursue compensation, and entitled to participate in the paraquat lawsuit. Neither side disclosed the terms of the settlement. The operation housed a significant number of children from Oregon, which stopped sending them to Sequel treatment centers in 2020. Sequel declined to comment on Lauries and Tristans cases. KRQE News 13 reached out may times to Sequel Youth and Family Services, which has seen similar closures and allegations in its other nationwide facilities recently. Those included sexual abuse by staff, bullying by residents, inappropriate physical restraints and employees sleeping on the job, according to records. 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. Former Students at Utah Troubled-Teen Centers Say Their Reports of Sex Abuse Were Ignored. Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional & Psychological Abuse. Thank you TorHoerman Law! Fredericks went into cardiac arrest April 29. A Profitable Death Trap: Sequel Youth Facilities Raked in Millions While Accused of Abusing Children. What we do is we strive every day to provide the best care we can for kids in these facilities, Birmingham said. 3. A typical day consisted of supervising juvenile males aged 13-18, during their daily activities including school, groups, meal times, hygiene, etc. Sequel treatment centers closed since 2017. The Alabama Department of Human . In an article from APM Reports analyzing Riverside Academy in Kansas, a former Sequel operation, it was found that: In the four years before it closed, the facility had been cited 38 times by Kansas officials for problems including excessive force by staff, poor supervision, under-qualified medical personnel, neglect and bullying by residents, according to state licensing records.. For more information about potential legal action, you can contact an experienced Sequel abuse lawyer at TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation. Pros. You may qualify to take legal action, to seek compensation for the damages that you incurred from the abuse in a Sequel facility, if you or a loved one suffered: This applies to, both, currently operational facilities and closed facilities. Weeks later, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner forwarded two new contracts with Sequel to Alabama Gov where. Youth & Family Services specializes in treating children with mental disorders, disabilities! Are places that are supposed to provide a safe, homelike, therapeutic environment, Johnson said the use ALL. Later, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner forwarded two new contracts with Sequel ( not... 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