Monday, October 18, 2021
Dear friends and supporters,
It is with a heavy heart that I share an update with you on the status of our Children’s Home.
In previous updates to you, I disclosed that our Children’s Home license was at risk. I shared our challenges we have had with recruiting and retaining staff and the unfortunate ways some staff had performed, which led to substantiated violations of policies and protocols.
I took these violations and these allegations very seriously. In order to protect the children in our care, I made the choice to temporarily suspend services at our Children’s Home in May. We are disappointed that the actions of a few have created a lasting impact on the future of our Children’s Home.
These last few months have not been easy – and I know they have been difficult for you, too. It was my most sincere hope to spend the coming months regrouping and rebuilding a stronger program that would provide the highest quality of care, the best and safest environment for children in crisis and the right forms of management for children in our care. A corrective action plan was developed and submitted to our partners at MDHHS with the hope that we would be provided this opportunity.
Because of the severity of the alleged violations, and after months of discussions with our partners at MDHHS, we have agreed with MDHHS to “administratively close” our Children’s Home for a period of five years, after which we will decide whether to seek a new license to operate the home.
In our more than 70-year history, these past two years have been the most difficult and challenging; I know we all prayed for the opportunity to welcome children back to our facility.
You likely have many questions and concerns about what comes next, and I remain committed to keeping you as updated as possible.
Please know, we are continuing to serve the community through our other programs and services; Refugee Services, our Immigration Law Clinic, Foster Care, Adoption and Counseling Services. The closure of our Children’s Home has no effect on our other programs. Our website has the most up-to-date information on how you can help support us.
Once again, I want to thank you for your prayers and support during this time. I am humbled and thankful for supporters, like you, who continue to recognize the importance of our work and are continuing to contribute, by gifts of resource or time, to our mission. Thank you for being a part of our team.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions.
Thank you, and God Bless –
Andrea E. Seyka
Chief Executive Officer
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Dear staff,
We have become aware that our former CH employee turned himself in today. He has been arraigned on three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree and has been released on bond. We have and will continue to fully cooperate with the Lansing Township Police and Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that all information continues to be made available.
We are continuing discussions with MDHHS regarding our licensing status – and hope we’re able to focus our efforts on re-building our Children’s Home program. The days and weeks ahead will be challenging – we know that you have many questions about what comes next, and so do we.
As information becomes available to us, we will continue to share what we know with you.
May God continue to protect and watch over children impacted by violence. In the event you or a loved one is a victim of sexual abuse, we encourage you to talk with LifeWorks – EAP, available 24/7 (information attached) or contact RAINN at 800.656.HOPE.
God Bless,
Andrea E. Seyka
Chief Executive Officer
Saturday, May 29, 2021
Dear friends and supporters,
I want to make you aware of serious allegations of sexual abuse from a former Children’s Home employee, who was terminated on March 1, 2021. We continue to fully cooperate with the Lansing Township Police as well as the prosecutor’s office to ensure that all information was made available.
Because this was an active investigation, I could not disclose the allegations earlier. These alleged actions are completely contrary to our mission, as we exist to protect and care for children in crisis. I assure you, I am taking these allegations very seriously – and I recognize this employee’s actions will have a negative ripple effect that will impact the Children’s Home many years to come.
As I had written to you last week, we are continuing discussions with MDHHS to address these issues we became aware of during the pandemic – and hope we’re able to focus our efforts on re-building our Children’s Home program that will provide the highest quality of care, the best and safest environment for children in crisis and the right forms of management for children in our care.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all children who are victims of crimes. Please continue to know that I am fighting and praying for the opportunity to welcome children back to our facility and to creating the strongest residential treatment program in the history of our community.
God Bless,
Andrea E. Seyka
Chief Executive Officer
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Dear friends and supporters,
In recent updates to you, I shared that I made the difficult decision to voluntarily suspend hosting children at STVCC’s Children’s Home in order to focus on recruitment and training of staff to meet the increasingly demanding needs of children being referred to our care. I shared our challenges of our staffing crisis and the way some staff performed that violated policies and protocols set to keep the children in our care safe. I assure you, I am taking these violations very seriously which is why I made the choice to temporarily halt services at STVCC’s Children’s Home.
A corrective action plan was set in place and we are working daily with our partners at MDHHS to address the issues we became aware of during the pandemic. While my most sincere hope is to spend the next few months regrouping and rebuilding, it is important I disclose to you that there is a possibility that our Children’s Home license will be revoked.
It is likely we won’t learn of MDHHS final decision until mid-summer but in an effort to be transparent with you, I wanted to share this possibility. I know you likely still have many questions. In all honestly, so do I. I remain committed to keeping you updated as I am able and as this process unfolds.
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support which is needed more than ever. This is one of the most challenging periods of STVCC’s more than 70 year history. Know that I am fighting and praying for the opportunity to welcome children back to our facility and to creating the strongest residential treatment program in the history of our community.
With a grateful heart,
Andrea E. Seyka
Chief Executive Officer
Friday, May 21, 2021
Dear friends and supporters,
As one of STVCC’s closest friends, I want to follow up on a recent update you received from me communicating necessary and important changes taking place at our Children’s Home. If you missed the original communication, you can find it HERE.
First, I want to thank those of you who have reached out with words of support and prayer. I know how much you love STVCC’s mission and your continued prayers are appreciated. As promised in my last message, I want to continue to keep you updated on the changes impacting STVCC. I also want to provide some clarity to some questions that have arisen since my last communication.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us in many ways. The children being referred to our program have intensive mental health needs and physical behaviors—more than our staff has traditionally been trained to handle. In addition, we’ve struggled to recruit and retain enough staff with a skill set necessary to overcome this challenge. As a result, we have had staff perform in ways that do not meet our expectations and did not follow licensing protocol. Protocols are set to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in our care and when they are not followed, it is clear changes must be made. I will not accept less than the top quality care of children and I know you won’t either. That is why I made the difficult decision to voluntarily pause hosting children in our facility in order to focus on re-building a program that will provide the highest quality of care, the best and safest environment for children in crisis and the right forms of management for children in our care.
Because this staffing crisis has resulted in licensing issues, STVCC leadership is currently in discussions with MDHHS regarding our licensing status. We have submitted a corrective action plan to address the issues found and pray we are given the opportunity to focus on training and education in a way we’ve never been able to.
For more than 70 years, STVCC has been a place of healing and hope for the most vulnerable in our community. We have been able to carry out our mission thanks to the generosity and love of people like you. I realize you may have more questions. Please know that things are moving and changing rapidly and I will continue to communicate with you and update you as we move forward. Thank you for your continued prayers.
With a grateful heart,
Andrea E. Seyka
Chief Executive Officer
Monday, May 17, 2021
Dear Friend and Supporter,
The St. Vincent Home for Children is our lifeblood. The time and care we take in the work we do to help the children in our care is the calling for so many, including you as one of our faithful supporters.
The last year has been challenging for everyone, especially for the children in our care and the caregivers on our staff. As a result of the challenges we’ve faced over the last year, we’ve made the difficult decision to put a temporary pause on hosting children in our residential facility.
To be clear, this is not a closure. Our intention is for this to be a reset for our program and staff. This is an opportunity for us to recruit, retain and train staff members that will allow us to better serve the children in our care.
This decision wasn’t arrived at lightly, but it was our decision and we are committed to creating a new structure that will better serve the children in our care.
Currently, we are working with the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) to facilitate moving the children to an alternative placement setting over the coming weeks. Each child has different needs, and to protect their privacy, we are unable to disclose where they will be going.
While it is incredibly hard for us to watch the kids depart, we know that we will see new faces soon – and we know that the facility that will be here to serve them will be more prepared to help them face their challenges. Although we do not have an exact date, we’re hopeful that the residential program will begin serving children again towards the end of the year.
Sadly, the challenges we are presented with by each child have only grown more difficult. The training of the past doesn’t match up with the needs of children today – to resolve this, we are working to re-create a program that will best serve the children in our care, and fully train every staff member on how to best maintain the high-level of care that we expect, and know you expect of us, and the children need. That will include not just making sure staff members know the policies and procedures, but also understand the diverse nature of these young people.
We understand how difficult this is, especially for our volunteers – and we believe our volunteers and donors are love in motion. We are continually grateful for your support, by act of service or resource. You have each had a profound impact – and will continue to have – on our children we serve. Together, we will be stronger than ever to serve the most vulnerable children in our community.
I will continue to keep you updated. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.
God Bless,
Andrea E. Seyka
Chief Executive Officer