Why Survivors Are Coming Forward Now
Timberline Knolls (Lemont, IL) closed February 13, 2025 amid abuse allegations.1
In July 2023, a New Mexico state-court jury returned a verdict over the sexual abuse of a young foster child by a foster parent; the child was placed through FamilyWorks, a not-for-profit treatment foster-care program to which Acadia subsidiary Desert Hills provided management services. Acadia said the child was not in the direct care of any Acadia facility and would challenge the verdict.23
In October 2023, Acadia agreed to pay an aggregate $400 million to settle three New Mexico lawsuits arising from the sexual abuse of children placed with a foster parent through a treatment foster-care program to which Acadia's Desert Hills subsidiary provided management services — including the case in which a jury had returned a $485 million verdict months earlier. The settlements include no admission or finding of liability by Acadia or Desert Hills.4
Acadia agreed to pay $19.85 million to settle U.S. Department of Justice allegations relating to medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral-health services, announced September 26, 2024.5
A New York Times investigation examined Acadia's practices, including holding patients to maximize insurance payments.6