MDHHS announces plan to transfer services from Shawono Center to Macomb County as part of juvenile justice system improvements

Move will add 40 beds, create more than 70 new jobs, ensure equitable access to rehabilitation opportunities

LANSING, Mich. – Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced its decision to transfer the care of male juveniles at the Shawono Center in Grayling to a newer, more modern facility in Macomb County that can better serve the youths and meet their treatment needs.

“While the decision to relocate the services provided by the Shawono Center was difficult, transferring to Macomb County will allow us to serve more youths and help them become healthy and productive citizens,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the staff at the Shawono Center, and we will work to find positions for all staff who would like to remain with MDHHS.”

The move is expected to begin in January with an estimated completion by early summer.

Built in the 1970s and in need of significant repairs, the Shawono Center is a secure 40-bed treatment facility for male juveniles between the ages of 12 and 21 who have been adjudicated for one or more felony counts. The Shawono Center currently houses 17 youths and employs approximately 40 people.

The relocation to the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center will provide treatment services for 20 youths with renovations underway for an expansion that will allow MDHHS to serve up to 40 more children. MDHHS will lease and operate the section of the facility currently operated by national provider, Rite of Passage, which will assist with transitioning the youth from Shawono. The new MDHHS location will be called the Michigan Youth Treatment Center (MYTC). The move to the more populous area of Macomb County will also improve the ability to maintain staffing and resources, an issue that was faced at the Shawono Center due to its more remote location.

“We look forward to our continued partnership with MDHHS to help advance youth justice practices and ensure that all young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Andy McKinnon, Deputy County Executive, Macomb County Executive Office.

MDHHS juvenile justice reform efforts help to increase the safety and well-being of youth who are placed in state residential facilities. Transferring youth services to the MYTC will facilitate the state’s ability to align policies and practices with research and best practice, including:

• The enhanced ability to maintain appropriate staffing levels, enabling increased engagement with youths and providing more intensive, individualized programming to meet their needs. 
• Greater opportunities for families to participate meaningfully in group treatment and individual therapy, tailored to the youth’s needs.
• Increased family involvement in evidence-based programming throughout a youth’s stay at the facility. 
• Implementation of evidence-based mentoring programs to support justice-involved youth that will contribute to reducing recidivism and promoting positive outcomes.

Additionally, the move will allow MDHHS to more easily deliver on some of the protocols and policies to improve the safety and well-being of Michigan children as identified by the Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, including improving safety in group residential facilities by:

• Developing the Residential Collaboration and Technical Assistance Unit.
• Partnering with the nationally recognized Building Bridges Initiative to provide training and technical assistance to congregate care providers.
• Implementing weekly reviews of group residential facilities to assess safety and risk using data.

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