Our Commitment to Transparency and Care
For 142 years, Vista Maria has been a safe harbor for youth and families when others could not or would not step in. Our mission is rooted in compassion and resilience, and it’s far bigger than any single moment in time. We understand that recent news coverage has been troubling, and we want to respond with the openness and accountability you deserve. In the sections below, you’ll find background on the situation, the official statements we’ve shared with the media, and answers to questions raised in recent reports. Thanks to your continued support, our team remains steadfast and focused on helping young people find stability, healing, and belonging through work that is grounded in our core values.
Background:
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, WDIV reported on the missing [youth], who left the Vista Maria campus on March 14 (AWOL). The reporter Erika Erickson spoke with former and current employees who made accusations about the state of the facility, staffing, and training. The police chief (Chief Haidar) held a press conference wherein he speculated that the high number of law enforcement runs to Vista Maria “could be staffing issues or hiring unqualified, untrained individuals. I understand they might be taking on more than they can handle,” This has resulted in significant damage to Vista Maria’s reputation with key stakeholders.
Statement provided to WDIV, Thursday, April 17, 2025:
At Vista Maria, the safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority. We alerted police immediately on March 14 when [the youth] left our property and initiated the search for her. We continue to work with law enforcement to help ensure her safe return. Our hearts go out to her aunt and the rest of her family during this difficult time. Vista Maria has a 142-year history of providing trauma-informed care, mental health stabilization, foster care services, and education for youth who have experienced trauma. Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at (313) 277-6770, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
Statement provided to WDIV, Tuesday, April 22, 2025:
As a mental health facility focused on youth, we prioritize the health, safety, and privacy of all our residents. Out of an abundance of caution, speaking on individual incidents could jeopardize the trust our residents and their families have placed in us. We look forward to a time soon, when we can sit down to share the story of the important work being done at Vista Maria. In the meantime, we continue to work with all local and federal law enforcement agencies to support the search for [the youth]. Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we hope that she is reunited with them very soon. Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at (313) 277-6770, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
Statement provided to WDIV, Wednesday, April 23, 2025:
All of us at Vista Maria are relieved and grateful that [the youth] has been found and is safe and receiving support. Our thanks go out to the many law enforcement agencies that worked hard to find her, especially the Dearborn Heights Police Department. We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community, including the many tips that helped the police in their search. Vista Maria stands ready to support [the youth] and her family in any way we can in the future.
Statement provided to WDIV, Friday, April 25, 2025:
Vista Maria has a 142-year history of providing residential care, mental health services, schooling, foster care, adoption and adoption services for youth, as well as transitional and independent living services for girls ages 18-24 through referrals from the state for young people dealing with issues such as neglect, abuse and human trafficking. The safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority. On Tuesday, April 22, 13 year old [youth] was on her way to Vista Maria, after being transferred from another facility. As the transfer vehicle came to a stop upon arrival, [the youth] opened the vehicle door and fled the campus before she could be checked into the facility. We immediately alerted and initiated the search for her. We have been working with law enforcement ever since to help ensure her safe return. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at (313) 277-6770, your local police department, or call 911.
Note (Updated 5/14/25): An earlier version of this document included two youths’ first and last names in media statements and responses to questions, as part of an effort to locate them. Since both youth have been found and are minors, we have now removed their names.
Questions:
What is Vista Maria doing in response to the allegations being made?
The safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority. Now that the youth has been found, we will turn our full attention to addressing other allegations. We have created this Frequently Asked Questions document for community members and media.
Did Vista Maria “impede” the process of finding the youth?
Vista Maria responded to official inquiries immediately and we provided the appropriate names and contact information to the requesting agency.
Did Vista Maria notify the youth’s family when she left our campus?
We notify the residents’ legal guardian of an incident, which may be MDHHS and not immediate family members. It’s up to MDHHS discretion to determine what the next steps are.
Did Vista Maria “wipe” a youth’s laptop?
No. Student laptops are issued and managed by Clara B. Ford Academy, which is a charter school on Vista Maria’s campus, run by CS Partners. Clara B. Ford Academy holds a separate 501(c)3 and is not a subsidiary of Vista Maria. When we received a request for a youth’s computer, we directed that request to Clara B. Ford Academy.
Did Vista Maria withhold the youth’s personal property?
The youth’s personal items were released to MDHHS. A Release of Client and Personal Property Form was signed by her MDHHS case worker, dated 4/15/25.
Were a youth’s calls recorded? Is that normal protocol for Vista Maria’s youth?
Vista Maria does not record phone calls. In some instances, some youth calls may be supervised because it is a requirement set by MDHHS or the court.
Is there merit to the claim that a male staff member had sexual contact with a youth?
While we can’t comment on specific cases, we take all allegations seriously and investigate them thoroughly, both internally and externally.
Why do men work in direct care at Vista Maria?
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is illegal to discriminate in hiring based on sex.
Was a resident placed in Donna Maria Hall as punishment?
No hall on this campus has ever been used to punish youth. Donna Maria Hall has served as office space for staff since 2019.
The youth we serve today seem more aggressive and act out more frequently. Why?
What can look like aggression is often a response to trauma. Many youth are reacting to triggers—reminders of past experiences that cause fear, stress, or anxiety. That’s why understanding those triggers is central to our trauma-informed approach. Our work focuses on helping residents feel safe, build trust, and learn healthy ways to cope. It takes strong coordination between DHHS caseworkers, State Licensing, private agencies, community mental health, and law enforcement. The needs are growing—and so is the importance of working together to meet them.
Did Dearborn Heights Police make 368 trips to Vista Maria in 2024?
There are times when Vista Maria staff need help handling highly aggressive situations and may require support from local law enforcement. We met with DHPD twice in 2024 (4/25/24 and 12/12/24) to share our concerns with them and establish ways to partner together moving forward. We want to be good partners and are determined to support DHPD leaders to resolve any issues.
The news story refers to hiring “random strangers”. Have our hiring practices changed?
No, all candidates must complete a background check, criminal history check, drug screening, and central registry (child abuse record) check before they are hired as an employee. All residential staff are required to participate in 4 weeks of onboarding training, and we also offer training throughout the year to meet contractual and professional development requirements. Residential clients are supported by a trained staff of youth coaches and counselors, licensed therapists, social workers, and a licensed nursing team.
Which building was videotaped with a cellphone and featured in the newscast?
DeRoy Hall (built in 2014) was featured in the cellphone video. As the video illustrated, a wing in DeRoy Hall was under repair at the time the video was taken. There were no youth on the wing. Walls were repaired and prepped for painting. The ceiling tile was removed to ensure no fire suppression pipes or fiber data feeds were adversely impacted.
It appears that residential buildings have sustained a great deal of damage over the past 18 months. What is the plan?
Whenever there has been damage to a building (walls, windows, doors) our first step is to make the area safe. The 2nd step is to take action, such as ordering materials and/or securing the services of a 3rd party to install a more durable solution. The 3rd step is to paint and provide the final finishes. All projects are prioritized in terms of safety
Under what regulatory oversight does Vista Maria operate?
There are many levels of oversight and regulations in place to ensure that Vista Maria continues to provide the best possible treatment and care. Vista Maria is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) every four years and is re-licensed by the state of Michigan every 2 years. Vista Maria is also assigned a Licensed Consultant with whom we are in regular contact.
What is the standard protocol for incident reports?
Vista Maria employees must document all critical incidents and any irregular campus occurrences or events that are inconsistent with routine operations. These incidents are documented by program staff and reviewed by a team leader and supervisor/manager. Incident Reports must be faxed/emailed to MDHHS within 24 hours. Incident Reports are also reviewed by our Consumer Rights Officer, who determines any additional follow-up, including an investigation (if necessary) and documents all physical management in the Michigan Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (MiSACWIS) within 24 hours.
How long does Vista Maria keep residents’ records onsite?
Records will be retained for the period of seven years after case closing, as dictated by federal and state law, accreditation organizations, and professional association guidelines.
What is the procedure for a current or former resident requesting copies of their records?
Current and/or former residents can request information related to their residency. To process those requests, the client and/or parent/guardian must give written, informed consent prior to the release, as directed by our internal policy and in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), CFR Title 42, and other applicable state and federal laws.
What is Vista Maria doing to identify shortcomings in our operations?
We will begin a review of all training, processes, and procedures to identify and implement any necessary changes to our operations.