The Tennessee Department of Children's Services took immediate action over the weekend to remove five youth in state custody from a Michigan facility under investigation following a child death.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which licenses Lakeside Academy, contacted DCS on Monday and indicated it was asking the child welfare agencies of all states with youth placed at the facility to take action to remove them. DCS reported it had already removed the Tennessee youth early Sunday morning.
"Immediately upon learning of the child death and law enforcement investigation at Lakeside Academy, we put together a plan to swiftly remove our youth placed there and find them appropriate placements at facilities in-state," DCS Commissioner Jennifer Nichols said. "While it is sometimes necessary to place children in treatment facilities outside of Tennessee based on the types of behavioral, emotional or medical treatment programs they need, it is always done so with great consideration. The five juveniles placed at Lakeside Academy were there for appropriate reasons, however, their safety is our greatest concern and we took action to immediately remove them from the facility."
The DCS juveniles placed at Lakeside Academy were both delinquent and dependent and neglected. They range in age from 13-18 years old.
Lakeside Academy is operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services and provides treatment programs for both boys and girls with severe behavioral issues