The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it started the process to revoke the license for Lakeside for Children after a 16 year-old died in their care.
The boy, later identified as Cornelius Frederick, was found unresponsive when Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety arrived at the facility. He died later of cardiac arrest at Bronson Methodist Hospital.
MDHHS told FOX 17 they intend to end restraints for youth in the hopes of preventing this from happening to another child.
“The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office thanks MDHHS and its licensing division for completing thorough investigations that will aid our office in determining appropriate charges in this tragic case,” said Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Getting. License for Lakeside for Children is currently suspended and state contracts with the facility have already been ended.
The Division of Child Welfare Licensing, which is under MDHHS, found 10 licensing violations while investigating the facility.
"To prevent future tragedies and improve the well-being of all children in child-caring institutions, the department will change its policies to forbid the use of physical restraints in all its licensed and contracted facilities." MDHHS announced. "The department will provide technical assistance to all licensed providers on alternatives to restraints prior to the policy taking effect."
All residents at Lakeside for Children have been taken to other facilities based on their needs.
