In May, Meadows Behavioral Healthcare (MBH) announced that it had been acquired by Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. (Kohlberg), a leading private equity firm and that Alita Care Holdings (Alita) would serve as the holding company for both The Meadows and Kohlberg’s existing portfolio company Sunspire Health, LLC. Alita will serve patients with 16 locations in eight states and offer a full continuum of services, including trauma-based treatment at The Meadows, drug, and alcohol addiction treatment at Sunspire, sex addiction treatment at Gentle Path at the Meadows, and eating disorder treatment at Remuda Ranch at The Meadows.
Along with that announcement came the news that Jim Dredge, CEO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, would transition into a new role as CEO of Alita. Today, the company has announced that Dredge will begin his official duties as Alita CEO on July 18.
“I am thrilled to begin creating synergy with Sunspire and The Meadows to create more high-quality treatment options for patients and their families, clinical referral sources, and payors across the country. Combined, we will be able to offer full continuum-of-care treatment to patients suffering from a wide cross-section of addictions and other behavioral health disorders at 15 differentiated programs across the United States,” Dredge said.
Sean Walsh, currently CEO of The Meadows, will take over Dredge’s responsibilities as CEO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. He will oversee all of the Meadows programs and facilities, including The Meadows, Gentle Path at The Meadows, The Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows, The Meadows Outpatient Center, The Rio Retreat Center at The Meadows, and Remuda Ranch at The Meadows. Walsh is a licensed therapist with more than 20 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare industry, and a proven track record of leadership excellence.
The company also announced that Sunspire founder, A.J. Schreiber, will be stepping down from his current position as CEO of Sunspire and into his new role as Vice Chairman of the Board for Alita Care. In addition, Chris Diamond, who is currently CEO of Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, will transition to a new role as President of Sunspire Health. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Sunspire, a company with 10 facilities in seven different states. Diamond has over 26 years of experience in Behavioral Health; he has spent the last three years dedicated to successfully reorganizing Remuda Ranch, a multi-campus eating disorder treatment facility founded in 1990.
Clinical operations will not be impacted at either company by these changes in leadership, and both Sunspire Health and The Meadows will continue to focus on providing best-in-class treatment services for patients and their families.
About Alita Care
Alita Care Holdings is a management organization that provides leadership and oversight to Meadows Behavioral Healthcare and Sunspire Health, LCC. Founded in 2016, the company is headquartered in Arizona and maintains 16 facilities in seven states across the U.S. Alita Care offers a wide range of behavioral health services to those struggling with emotional trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, sex addiction, eating disorders, and other behavioral disorders. Alita Care’s programs are guided by experienced behavioral health experts and thought leaders, who bring the latest neurobehavioral research and proven methodologies to our personalized, multifaceted, and holistic approach to recovery.
About Meadows Behavioral Healthcare
Meadows Behavioral Healthcare is the industry leader in providing treatment for people struggling with addiction, eating disorders, trauma, and related mental health conditions. The company’s programs — The Meadows, The Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows, Gentle Path at The Meadows, Remuda Ranch at The Meadows, The Meadows Outpatient Center, and a series of intensive workshops — are the premier choice of patients, families, and behavioral health professionals. For more information, please visit The Meadows.
About Sunspire Health
Sunspire Health is a leading provider of behavioral health services for the treatment of substance abuse, eating, and other co-occurring disorders. The company operates a national network of independently branded treatment centers, currently comprising ten locations in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas. Utilizing evidence-based clinical interventions, Sunspire offers treatment with respect for patients’ specific needs and diverse lifestyles. Sunspire delivers improved patient outcomes by offering a full continuum of care and individualized treatment plans in intimate settings in residential and outpatient facilities across the nation.