{"id":934288,"date":"2026-07-14T12:48:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T12:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/934288\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T12:48:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T12:48:24","slug":"legislation-announced-with-goal-of-improving-protections-for-michigans-mental-health-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/934288\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislation announced with goal of improving protections for Michigan\u2019s mental health patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a new push to protect vulnerable patients in Michigan\u2019s five mental health hospitals.<\/p>\n

Legislation will be introduced this week that addresses specific problems discovered in a state audit.<\/p>\n

The Investigators at Local 4 have been following this story closely since first exposing issues at the Hawthorn Facility in Northville — that\u2019s the state\u2019s only psychiatric hospital for children. The goal of this legislation is to better protect children.<\/p>\n

—> <\/b>Find full coverage of the Hawthorn Center here.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

In 2022, Local 4 uncovered that an active shooter drill was held at the Hawthorn Center without warning patients or employees. Many people believed there was a real gunman, and several called 911 fearing for their lives.<\/p>\n

Since then, the facility has closed, has been torn down, and a new facility is being built in its place. The new Hawthorn Center is expected to open this fall.<\/p>\n

Michigan Senator Michael Webber is introducing this legislation. He said he has some concerns about the transition period to the new facility. That when kids were moved to Walter Reuther initially, the rooms weren\u2019t ready, the beds weren\u2019t right, and the kids had to stay in the lobby until it was ready for them.<\/p>\n

Last fall, the state\u2019s auditor general dropped its report, finding that:<\/p>\n