- Two student deaths within four weeks prompt shutdown
- State orders admission freeze following safety violations
- Parent company previously closed boys' program after fatality
Asheville Academy, a residential treatment school in Weaverville, North Carolina, has permanently closed its doors following the tragic deaths of two students. The facility released all 27 remaining students on May 31, less than a week after state officials identified critical safety failures. This closure marks the second Family Help & Wellness-operated program shuttered in North Carolina within 14 months.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched an investigation May 8 after a 13-year-old student's suicide. Officials discovered systemic supervision failures and inadequate staff training during their review. Mental health treatment facilities face growing scrutiny nationwide, with 22% of residential programs failing basic safety audits according to 2023 industry reports.
Regional comparisons highlight similar challenges. A 2023 case study from South Carolina's Bright Horizons Youth Center showed parallel patterns of understaffing and regulatory violations preceding patient harm. Industry experts note private equity firms now own 41% of U.S. behavioral health facilities, potentially prioritizing profits over care quality.
The school's closure follows Trails Carolina's 2024 license revocation, another Family Help & Wellness program where a 12-year-old boy died during orientation. Both incidents involved inadequate emergency response protocols. Current students' families report receiving minimal transition support, a common complaint in sudden facility closures affecting 68% of displaced youth per national surveys.
State investigators continue reviewing Asheville Academy's operations, with final reports expected by late summer. Legislative proposals now target stricter licensing requirements for adolescent treatment centers, including mandatory staff-to-patient ratios and real-time surveillance systems. These reforms could prevent future tragedies through enhanced accountability measures.