By Elena Durnbaugh
Gongwer News Service
Republican lawmakers are once again calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to shut down the Michigan Youth Treatment Center in Macomb County, citing a recent fight.
DHHS, however, said the incident cited took place earlier this year.
Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, and Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, renewed efforts to bring attention to the facility this week. In March, they also sent a letter to DHHS asking for the center to be shut down.
“The fact that children continue to be put in harm’s way while under the state’s care is despicable,” Roth, who chairs the House Appropriations Human Services Subcommittee, said in a statement. “Serious concerns have been raised repeatedly, yet the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has deliberately ignored these issues. The department has been failing our children, and it is well past time for accountability. We can’t afford to wait any longer. People are getting hurt.”
The statement from Roth and Meerman cites a fight that recently broke out between two youth at the facility and that staff failed to address it in a “timely and effective manner.”
In a press release, Meerman described an incident between two children where they “viciously pummeled each other,” and staff did not intervene for 17 seconds.
“When someone did have the courage to step in, one of the kids beat him over the head with his own radio, and he required stitches,” Meerman said. “We can’t justify keeping kids in these conditions. These facilities are supposed to help at-risk youth, but their dangerous disorganization is causing them to fail, and we can’t count on the state to hold them accountable.”
In a statement, Erin Stover, a spokesperson for the department, said DHHS is working to provide support for both the youth at the facility and the staff.
"We appreciate the concern Reps. Roth and Meerman have for the youth and staff at the Michigan Youth Treatment Center (MYTC), however, the incident referenced in the press release occurred earlier this year, and we immediately worked to ensure safeguards were in place to help prevent future activities that may lead to destructive behavior," Stover said. "Working in a juvenile justice facility is both incredibly challenging and rewarding as youth served often come with significant hurdles caused by trauma, histories of violence, mental health struggles and difficult life circumstances.
“Many have learned survival skills that can make trust, relationships and communication difficult. Building trust, maintaining safety and helping youth develop new skills for a more stable life requires patience, resilience, empathy and dedication."
Stover went on to explain that the department provides tools and resources for staff to help them maintain safe environments, including de-escalation training.
“We are always open to discussions and recommendations on support and training we provide our staff,” she said. "Our focus remains on advancing MYTC through staff development and cultivating an environment that supports evidence-based rehabilitation and long-term success for the youth in our care."
Roth said the state needed to rethink how the facilities are operating, and he advocated for county control.
“Youth treatment in Michigan is in crisis,” he said in a statement. “The state has been the only option because they have been maliciously shutting down nonprofits. We need to rethink how these institutions are being operated. … Community leaders will be able to identify solutions that will actually help our children because the state clearly cannot.”
Gongwer News Service
Republican lawmakers are once again calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to shut down the Michigan Youth Treatment Center in Macomb County, citing a recent fight.
DHHS, however, said the incident cited took place earlier this year.
Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, and Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, renewed efforts to bring attention to the facility this week. In March, they also sent a letter to DHHS asking for the center to be shut down.
“The fact that children continue to be put in harm’s way while under the state’s care is despicable,” Roth, who chairs the House Appropriations Human Services Subcommittee, said in a statement. “Serious concerns have been raised repeatedly, yet the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has deliberately ignored these issues. The department has been failing our children, and it is well past time for accountability. We can’t afford to wait any longer. People are getting hurt.”
The statement from Roth and Meerman cites a fight that recently broke out between two youth at the facility and that staff failed to address it in a “timely and effective manner.”
In a press release, Meerman described an incident between two children where they “viciously pummeled each other,” and staff did not intervene for 17 seconds.
“When someone did have the courage to step in, one of the kids beat him over the head with his own radio, and he required stitches,” Meerman said. “We can’t justify keeping kids in these conditions. These facilities are supposed to help at-risk youth, but their dangerous disorganization is causing them to fail, and we can’t count on the state to hold them accountable.”
In a statement, Erin Stover, a spokesperson for the department, said DHHS is working to provide support for both the youth at the facility and the staff.
"We appreciate the concern Reps. Roth and Meerman have for the youth and staff at the Michigan Youth Treatment Center (MYTC), however, the incident referenced in the press release occurred earlier this year, and we immediately worked to ensure safeguards were in place to help prevent future activities that may lead to destructive behavior," Stover said. "Working in a juvenile justice facility is both incredibly challenging and rewarding as youth served often come with significant hurdles caused by trauma, histories of violence, mental health struggles and difficult life circumstances.
“Many have learned survival skills that can make trust, relationships and communication difficult. Building trust, maintaining safety and helping youth develop new skills for a more stable life requires patience, resilience, empathy and dedication."
Stover went on to explain that the department provides tools and resources for staff to help them maintain safe environments, including de-escalation training.
“We are always open to discussions and recommendations on support and training we provide our staff,” she said. "Our focus remains on advancing MYTC through staff development and cultivating an environment that supports evidence-based rehabilitation and long-term success for the youth in our care."
Roth said the state needed to rethink how the facilities are operating, and he advocated for county control.
“Youth treatment in Michigan is in crisis,” he said in a statement. “The state has been the only option because they have been maliciously shutting down nonprofits. We need to rethink how these institutions are being operated. … Community leaders will be able to identify solutions that will actually help our children because the state clearly cannot.”
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