Mental illness advocate says maltreatment in group homes needs stronger punishment

At least 50 residents in Minnesota group homes have died since late 2022 under circumstances serious enough to trigger state maltreatment investigations, according to an MPR and APM investigation.

In 19 of those cases, state investigators concluded the homes had neglected those vulnerable people. Yet the group homes faced only minimal consequences. State law caps fines on the homes at $5,000 for each case of substantiated maltreatment

Marcus Schmit, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said to combat this, there needs to be stricter punishment.

“We know fines aren't going to change behavior. We certainly have to raise the amount of fines, but we really, have to explore revocation of licensure,” he said.

Schmit also said it appears that there is a generally lack of oversight on these facilities and their treatment of patients. He added that the funding model for these facilities is overly complicated and allows bad actors to take advantage.

Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.

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