Whistleblower Faces Harassment After Shedding Light on Conditions at Hawthorn Center

Whistleblower Faces Harassment After Shedding Light on Conditions at Hawthorn Center

In Northville Township, Michigan, a teacher who blew the whistle on the shocking conditions inside the state-run Hawthorn Center shared reports of harassment following her exposure of the situation.

The teacher, Christal Bonner, had been a special education teacher for eight years at Hawthorn Center, which is the state’s only child psychiatric hospital. In June 2023, Bonner made public the concerning conditions she witnessed where patients were transferred to the Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland. She described scenes where windows were completely covered, preventing any daylight from entering, and children were not allowed outdoors for months.

“They have forgotten it’s a healthcare facility, not a correctional facility,” Bonner stated during her initial exposure of the situation.

Unfortunately, after sharing her concerns, Bonner says she faced several conduct violations and was subject to an investigatory conference. Feeling targeted and stressed, she eventually quit her job, with her final day being July 19, 2024.

“I felt the attacks would still keep coming,” Bonner said, adding that she does not believe enough changes have been made and continues to describe Hawthorn as more prison-like than a healthcare facility.

Concerns about the Hawthorn Center have reached the state legislature as well. State Senator Michael Webber has expressed his worry, stating the Office of Recipient Rights, where complaints can be filed, is falling short. He pointed out that the office has five days to investigate complaints but often fails to meet that deadline due to staffing shortages and other issues.

Webber is awaiting an audit of the department, which is expected to be concluded in 2025. In the meantime, concerns about the well-being of patients continue to grow.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, while assuring its commitment to provide a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents and to treat all employees with dignity and respect, also assured of its policy prohibiting retaliation and keeps focus on providing fulfilling career experiences to all employees.