Facility profile Illinois
Northern Illinois Academy
Northern Illinois Academy was a program in Aurora, Illinois, operated by Sequel TSI. It operated from 2003 to 2021.
About Northern Illinois Academy
Northern Illinois Academy in Aurora was founded in 2003 and run by Sequel (Sequel's 2017 SEC proxy); in May 2021 Illinois moved all students in its care out after an Equip for Equality review, and the academy closed in 2021.source 1, source 2
Also drawn on: Global Partner Acquisition Corp., merger proxy for Sequel (PREM14A), program table.
Timeline
From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.
2003
Opened in Aurora, Illinois
2006
Sequel Youth and Family Services began running it
It ran the program until 2021.
2009
Sequel TSI: Acquired Three Springs, Inc. (TSI) of Huntsville, Alabama
Sequel Youth and Family Services ran Northern Illinois Academy at the time.
Sequel TSI: Acquired Three Springs, Inc. (TSI) of Huntsville, Alabama December 30, 2009
Sequel announced its acquisition of the privately held Three Springs, Inc. The announcement said the combined companies would operate 22 programs across the country. The Three Springs programs later carried the Sequel TSI name.
2017
Sequel TSI: Sold a majority stake to Altamont Capital Partners
Sequel Youth and Family Services ran Northern Illinois Academy at the time.
Sequel TSI: Sold a majority stake to Altamont Capital Partners September 1, 2017
Altamont Capital Partners announced a majority equity investment in Sequel through a holding company, SYFS Parent; terms were not disclosed. At the time Sequel ran 44 programs in 19 states, and APM Reports counted 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. CEO John Stupak stayed on and co-founder Jay Ripley remained board chairman. Altamont's portfolio page lists the investment as active and says SYFS Parent later acquired Rebecca & Aaron Schools (2017) and Pine Cone Therapies (2020).
2019
John Doe, father of Jane Doe, a minor, v. Sequel Schools, LLC d/b/a Northern Illinois Academy, et al.
John Doe, father of Jane Doe, a minor, v. Sequel Schools, LLC d/b/a Northern Illinois Academy, et al.
The father of a 13-year-old Northern Illinois Academy resident sued the academy's operator, Sequel Schools, and an 18-year-old fellow resident. The complaint says that on an outing to the Aurora Public Library on April 15, 2019, the older resident lured the girl into the men's restroom and raped her. It alleges the academy knew of his history of sexual aggression and failed to supervise or separate the two.
Outcome: No reported outcome found.
- Court
- Circuit Court of Kane County, Illinois
- Case number
- 19L-000502
- Status
- Unknown
2021
Vivant Behavioral Health: Founded by Sequel co-founder Jay Ripley and bought most of Sequel's remaining centers
Sequel Youth and Family Services ran Northern Illinois Academy at the time.
Vivant Behavioral Health: Founded by Sequel co-founder Jay Ripley and bought most of Sequel's remaining centers
Jay Ripley, one of Sequel's three founders, founded Vivant Behavioral Healthcare in 2021. Sequel sold most of its centers that had not closed to Vivant, which now controls most former Sequel treatment centers still open.
Provo Canyon School Closure
1 article in The Imprint.
Provo Canyon School Closure November 2, 2021
A report by the National Disability Rights Network documents widespread civil rights violations, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and inappropriate use of psychotropic medication across for-profit youth residential programs in 18 states.
Closed
Lawsuits
-
John Doe, father of Jane Doe, a minor, v. Sequel Schools, LLC d/b/a Northern Illinois Academy, et al.
Outcome: No reported outcome found.
The father of a 13-year-old Northern Illinois Academy resident sued the academy's operator, Sequel Schools, and an 18-year-old fellow resident. The complaint says that on an outing to the Aurora Public Library on April 15, 2019, the older resident lured the girl into the men's restroom and raped her. It alleges the academy knew of his history of sexual aggression and failed to supervise or separate the two. He was criminally charged by Kane County authorities.
News coverage
-
Northern Illinois Academy — Private School Demographics — ProPublica
Demographic data and historical records for Northern Illinois Academy, a special education private school in Aurora, Illinois, show enrollment figures and racial makeup from the 2019-20 school year. The facility was subsequently excluded from the Private School Survey in 2021-22 following reports of its closure.
-
New residential mental health facility for youth could be coming to Aurora
The Aurora City Council is reviewing a proposal by the LYDIA Home Association, a Christian nonprofit, to open a 40‑bed residential mental health facility for youths ages 12 to 21 in a former Northern Illinois Academy building. The facility would serve children placed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, offering therapy, schooling, and medical oversight with specified staffing ratios. The article references prior concerns at the former facility, including reports of seclusion, improper restraints, and a past sexual assault case involving staff.
-
Sequel to close New Mexico youth facility amid more abuse allegations | APM Reports
Sequel Youth & Family Services agreed to close Bernalillo Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a state investigation documented physical abuse, excessive restraints, and inadequate supervision of autistic residents. The closure follows multiple prior investigations and the shutdown of several other Sequel facilities nationwide.
-
Federal Watchdogs Find Abuse at For-Profit Youth Residential Programs in 18 States
A report by the National Disability Rights Network documents widespread civil rights violations, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and inappropriate use of psychotropic medication across for-profit youth residential programs in 18 states. The findings highlight systemic issues driven by profit-seeking models, prompting calls for increased federal oversight and accountability.
-
Report Details Abuse & Neglect At Aurora Residential School For Students With Disabilities
An independent report by the watchdog group Equip for Equality detailed allegations of neglect, improper physical restraint, and seclusion at Northern Illinois Academy, a residential facility for students with disabilities in Aurora, Illinois. Following the findings, the Illinois State Board of Education changed the facility's status to non-approved, prompting state agencies to transition students out of the program before the facility's planned closure.
-
Abuse Allegations Lead To Closure of Aurora School
Northern Illinois Academy, a residential therapeutic day school in Aurora, Illinois, has relinquished its licenses and terminated state contracts following a comprehensive review by advocacy group Equip for Equality. The 41-page review documented numerous allegations of physical, sexual, and emotional assault by staff, improper restraints, seclusion, and failure to report incidents to state child welfare agencies. State and local officials noted severe understaffing and safety concerns, prompting the facility's closure and the transfer of youth to alternative placements.
-
State of Illinois Revokes Approval of Northern Illinois Academy and Relocates Students Following Oversight Report
The State of Illinois announced plans to remove all students from Northern Illinois Academy, a residential treatment facility managed by Sequel Youth and Family Services, following a state-commissioned review by Equip for Equality that revealed findings of staff misconduct, improper restraints, seclusion, and neglect.
-
State takes action against academy that serves children with disabilities
State agencies in Illinois have announced they are cutting ties with Northern Illinois Academy in Aurora after independent reviews documented severe deficiencies, including unsafe physical restraints, seclusions, staffing shortages, and failure to report abuse. The facility, which serves youth with mental health conditions and developmental disabilities, lost its federal Medicaid certification and state educational approval, prompting state agencies to transition the remaining students to other facilities.
-
Lawsuit and Investigation Detail History of Abuse and Death at Lakeside Academy
Following the death of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredericks at Lakeside Academy in Michigan after staff used a prolonged physical restraint, a lawsuit was filed detailing a pattern of negligence, improper restraint usage, and safety violations at the facility. The operator, Sequel Youth and Family Services, faced increased scrutiny regarding systemic abuse, lack of oversight, and safety incidents across multiple residential facilities nationwide.
-
Tennessee Department of Children's Services Removes 18 Children from Kingston Academy
State child protective services removed 18 children from Kingston Academy in Roane County following an investigation or intervention. The source text was limited to an access restriction message, restricting further extraction of specific details regarding the removal.
Videos
Connections on the network map
The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.
Ownership
- Sequel Youth and Family Services
Documents
Merged from: Timberline Knolls RTC (1)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)
-
430792702-Complaint-10-17-19-Jane-Doe-V-Sequel-Schools-Northern-Il-Academy Legal filing -
Equip For Equality, Report On Northern Illinois Academy (May 2021) NGO or advocacy report -
Northern Illinois Academy Family Handbook 2017 Parent or family handbook -
Sequel Website Northern Illinois Academy 2017 Website capture
From the Unsilenced archive
22 documents about Northern Illinois Academy that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Northern Illinois Academy.
- 160211-0 Exe_Redacted.pdf
- 2.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice (2)_Redacted.pdf
- 2.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice_Redacted.pdf
- 3.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice 1_Redacted.pdf
- 3.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice 2_Redacted.pdf
- 4.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice_Redacted.pdf
- 5.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice_Redacted.pdf
- 6.19 Northern Illinois Academy Invoice_Redacted.pdf
- 6.20.19 Site Visit REPORT.pdf
- 6.20.19. WOUDA NIA REPORT Summary.pdf
- Additional Links for Northern Illinois Academy.xlsx
- Child 3 Holds_Redacted (Part 2).pdf
- Child 3 Holds_Redacted.pdf
- DCFS Concern_Redacted.pdf
- DCFS License 033118 to 033122 (1).pdf
- DHS field staff and other visitors to NIA program_Redacted.pdf
- Fwd_ Northern Illinois Academy Abuse_Redacted.pdf
- JW June 2019 site visit report-1.pdf
- NIA-uannonced visit 8-9-19_Redacted.pdf
- PDFNotesNIA-uannonced visit 8-9-19_Redacted copy 2.pdf
- Visit to Northern Illinois Academy.pdf
- Visitors to NIA-Case workers and others involved in the case. 9-4-19_Redacted.pdf
We have questions about Northern Illinois Academy
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Materials and links
External links
Government records
- Northern Illinois Academy Report: A Special Report from the Abuse Investigation Unit.
- Administration to Transition Students Out of Northern Illinois Academy Following Findings of State-Commissioned Equip for Equality Report
- Northern Illinois Academy Report (2021-05-04)
- Administration to Transition Students Out of Northern Illinois Academy Following Findings of State-Commissioned Equip for Equality Report (2021-05-14)
- Washington State Canceling Sequel Contract (2020-01-24)
3 of these from SCIAD NET.
Survivor posts and discussion
- Green Bay teen removed from Northern Illinois Academy amid investigation and closure
- Incident at Northern Illinois Academy
Staff listing or directory
- Working at Northern Illinois Academy: 59 Reviews | Indeed.com
- Carolyn Seaman - classroom counselor - Northern Illinois Academy | LinkedIn
- Daniel Green - Residential Counselor - Northern Illinois Academy | LinkedIn
Reference and research
- DHHR - Northern Illinois Academy Suspension 2020 | DocumentCloud
- Northern Illinois Academy - Unsilenced
Archived pages
- concerns around staffing, incident reporting, elopements, treatment planning, the use of seclusion and isolated time-outs, and improper restraints
- arrested and charged with sexually abusing a minor resident
- allegedly placed her hands a child’s neck, “impeding his breathing,
- 18-year-old resident was charged with allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl
- Northern Illinois Academy Archived Website (2021)
1 of these from SCIAD NET.