Teacher Says She Faced Harassment After Exposing Conditions at Hawthorn Center

In Northville Township, Michigan, a state-run hospital, the Hawthorn Center, has been the focus of controversy following claims made by a teacher about the treatment of children within the facility.

The teacher, Christal Bonner, is a former special education teacher at the hospital who recently described her experiences to the media. After bringing to light the conditions these patients were enduring, Bonner said she subsequently faced harassment, allegations of conduct violations, and performance issues from her employers.

According to Bonner, the mistreatment involved hospital managers treating the establishment more like a prison than a healthcare facility. She detailed that the hospital completely covered windows, denying children access to fresh air and sunlight for months.

Despite the impact on her career, Bonner shared her story out of a deep concern for the children housed at the Hawthorn Center. She was particularly disturbed by their relocation to the Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland in mid-2023 which was issued without visible improvements in conditions.

Following an eight-year tenure, Bonner decided to leave her position, citing a disturbing trend of alleged harassment from administration in the wake of her whistleblowing. She maintains that the victimization she experienced at the hospital will persist.

“You expose the kids need to get outside, right? And then all of a sudden, you get this the very next year — Sheet after sheet of how you’re failing,” Bonner said. “It was just too much. It was just thing after thing after thing.”

However, Bonner is not alone in her concerns. State Sen. Michael Webber has also expressed worries about the management of the Hawthorn Center. In response to these claims, he pushed for state hearings earlier this year.

Webber pointed out that complaints lodged with the Office of Recipient Rights are supposed to be investigated within five days, but due to various impediments including staffing issues, this often does not occur. Furthermore, he noted that on certain occasions, incidents of misconduct lack accompanying camera footage.

“We have a responsibility with these kids in our care and adults 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.”

While an audit of the department is expected to be completed by 2025, it remains a concern what will happen to the patients during the interim.

In response to these allegations, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released a statement emphasizing their commitment to a safe, respectful, and supportive work environment. However, considering the allegations by Bonner and the ongoing concerns expressed by Senator Webber, the public will likely await tangible proof of these ideals.