Facility profile Alabama
Southeast Alabama Youth Leadership Academy
Also known as Camp SAYLA
Southeast Alabama Youth Leadership Academy was a program in Abbeville, Alabama.
About Southeast Alabama Youth Leadership Academy
A news report says it closed.source
News coverage
-
‘Enough Is enough.’ Paris Hilton joins Alabama lawmakers in pushing for child safety reform
Alabama lawmakers and Paris Hilton are pushing for child safety reform after reports of abuse and neglect in residential facilities. The proposed reform aims to close oversight gaps and strengthen transparency and reporting. Several incidents of staff violence and abuse have been documented in facilities operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services and Camp SAYLA.
-
Lawsuits Allege Abuse at Alabama Youth Facility, Raising Oversight Questions
A state-funded youth facility in Alabama, Camp Sayla, faces its fourth lawsuit alleging severe physical and psychological abuse by staff. Following reports from a youth in January 2024, law enforcement and the Department of Human Resources investigated the facility, leading to the arrest and indictment of a former staff member and the subsequent suspension of the facility's license by the Department of Youth Services.
-
Henry County’s abandoned youth camp getting a new life
Camp Sayla, a juvenile behavior camp in Henry County, Alabama, was closed following multiple child abuse allegations, failed state inspections, and lawsuits. The facility is now slated to be repurposed as a local law‑enforcement training center by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. The conversion is intended to provide a cost‑effective training venue for regional police departments.
-
Children were beaten, encouraged to fight at state-funded AL facility, lawsuits claim
Two lawsuits accuse Camp SAYLA, an Alabama youth facility, of physical abuse and neglect. The suits name staff member Kenyatta Danzey, alleging he harmed children and encouraged violence among residents. Plaintiffs Jamarion Bullock and Pamela Boone’s child claim the abuse was ignored by staff. Attorney Tommy James argues such misconduct is widespread in state-funded facilities. The Alabama Department of Youth Services suspended Camp SAYLA’s license after investigations but later reinstated it. The facility is currently inactive.
-
Lawsuits Filed Against Alabama Youth Residential Facility Alleging Staff Misconduct
Two new lawsuits have been filed against Camp SAYLA in Henry County, Alabama, alleging physical assaults, psychological harm, and forced fights among residents coordinated by staff. The legal action follows previous child abuse charges against a staff member and temporary license suspension by the Alabama Department of Youth Services due to safety and sanitation violations.
-
Youth camp shut down after child abuse allegations
Camp SAYLA, a youth detention center in Abbeville, Alabama, had its license suspended by the Alabama Department of Youth Services following allegations of abuse by a supervisor. The supervisor, Kenyatta Dewayne Danzey, was charged with 17 counts of abuse. The facility has been closed and all youth have been relocated.
Staff
Administration
-
Kelly Hollis
Executive director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center Referral/Assessment Specialist (2021)
Connections on the network map
The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.
We have questions about Southeast Alabama Youth Leadership Academy
If you were there, worked there or sent your child there, you can help fill in what our records are missing. Each question takes a moment; skip anything you do not know.
Answer questions about Southeast Alabama Youth Leadership Academy