DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Vista Maria has laid off nearly 130 employees and officially ended its residential youth mental health programming.
The Investigators at Local 4 have been looking into the facility since March, exposing serious problems at the facility for vulnerable girls in Dearborn Heights.
The investigation began after a teen went missing from the campus and Dearborn Heights police reported making 368 calls to the center in just a year.
State reports revealed dozens of violations and complaints ranging from allegations of sexual assault to staff not meeting training requirements.
Vista Maria says the layoffs are due to “social, systemic, and regulatory factors.” It first announced its decision to make a “thoughtful shift in how we serve Michigan’s youth” in October. The layoffs have been made official and the residential program has been discontinued.
The facility was housing 11 girls back in October, prior to that the usual number was more than 50. All of them have been moved out of Vista Maria as of December 19.
Vista Maria has laid off 129 employees and is transferring 10 into internal positions to support other programs.
---> Inside Vista Maria: State investigations lead to more violations at all-girls treatment facility
Local 4 has been told that there are discussions on how the residential buildings may be of use in the future. Vista Maria says it is working to strengthen its remaining programs like foster care, independent living, and juvenile justice services.
A local law firm has launched an investigation into what they call “disturbing allegations” from former residents of Vista Maria and they say they plan to file suit in the coming months.