NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Michigan State Sen. Michael Webber is expressing his concerns about the children housed at a state-run psychiatric hospital.
It’s not the first time he’s expressed concerns about the Hawthorn Center. Earlier this year, he pushed for state hearings.
Webber said the system Michigan has in place to protect patients, especially children, is failing -- starting with the Office of Recipient Rights, where complaints can be filed.
“They have five days to investigate complaints and due to staffing, due to a lot of different things, it’s not happening,” Webber said. “Sometimes there’s not camera footage on certain incidents.”
Cameras were working the day a child chased and beat another. Staff appeared to watch before stopping the attack. A lawsuit has been filed.
“We have a responsibility with these kids in our care and adults in our in our care too at Walter Reuther,” Webber said. “I think they’re trying to kind of protect themselves more so than trying to get the system better.”
When a whistleblower exposed her concerns about treatment at the Hawthorn Center, she said she was slapped with misconduct reports.
Related: Hawthorn Center whistleblower says she was harassed after exposing conditions
“Whistleblowers internally, they have contacted our office to tell their story of what’s really going on in there, and it’s given us a better picture,” Webber said. “But I think the concern is every time we try to get them to testify in a committee or this or that, it gets shut down because, I think fear of retaliatory measures.”
Webber said he’s waiting on an audit of the department, which is expected to be completed in 2025, but he remains concerned about what will happen to patients as he waits.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the following statement:
“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ mission is to provide opportunities, services and programs that promote a healthy, safe and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
MDHHS recognizes the key role our staff play in keeping kids safe, particularly when it comes to children in need of behavioral health services. MDHHS has a policy prohibiting retaliation and strives to create a collaborative work environment where all employees can have a fulfilling career experience.”