After abuse reports, California approves $8 million for youth returning from troubled treatment programs
Jan. 14, 2021
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DaeJah Seward is seen outside her place of work in Sacramento, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020.Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2020
California will spend more than $8 million to find safer homes for children returning from troubled out-of-state residential programs, in response to a Chronicle and Imprint investigation into rampant reports of abuse at the facilities.
Officials in counties across the state are now spending the money, approved by the state Legislature in December, to recruit foster families and bolster mental health and behavioral support services for the 131 young people California is calling back from treatment programs across the country.
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They were home now, evacuated from the chaos at Lakeside Academy.
About this project
This story is a collaboration between The San Francisco Chronicle and The Imprint, an independent, nonprofit publication dedicated to covering child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and educational issues faced by vulnerable youth. To report the story, Joaquin Palomino and Cynthia Dizikes of The Chronicle and Sara Tiano of The Imprint obtained hundreds of incident reports through public record requests; interviewed dozens of lawmakers, government officials, advocates and former residents and employees of Sequel-run facilities; and analyzed financial records, videos and other documentation speaking to the operations of facilities where California sends children to receive help for serious mental health and behavioral issues. The Imprint is a publication of Fostering Media Connections. To read or support its work, go to ImprintNews.org.