The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office notified East Bethel that the Minnesota Department of Human Services has ordered the immediate suspension of Nexus Family Healing’s care license.
Nexus must discharge all youth in the program within 14 days, according to the order. The facility, located at 900 189th Ave. NE, provides emotional, behavioral and mental health programming for youth ages 10 to 21, according to its website.
East Bethel City Administrator Matt Look said the order takes effect May 29, or once all youth have been transitioned to a new provider. He said the reasons for the suspension were significant, though the allegations remain under investigation by DHS.
Look said East Bethel had helped fund the facility through a pass-through loan, but there would be no ramifications to the city if the loan defaults.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had some issues with that facility at a cost to the city, the number of calls that come in,” Look said. “We’ve tried to address it with them, and sometimes their hands are tied by the state, and sometimes they don’t have the funding, and sometimes they don’t have the personnel, and sometimes, sometimes, sometimes. It’s always something.”
Nexus Responds
Nexus wrote in a statement to ABC Newspapers that they were surprised to receive notice from the DHS to temporarily close the facility and relocate youth by May 29, saying that they had a history of responsive and collaborative work with the department.
“Since the 15th, we’ve been reaching out to DHS to request a meeting and gain greater visibility into specific concerns,” they wrote. “We are confident that the steps we have implemented and continue to implement will eliminate the potential for harm that might have existed. We welcome DHS’s input on any additional recommended steps or safeguards.”
The facility wrote further that they had grave concern for the closure, saying it was not in the best interest of the youth and their families.
“These children are struggling with high levels of mental and behavioral health needs, and there are limited choices of proven, qualified providers,” Nexus wrote. “Our organization values and respects the role of DHS and all regulatory and licensing organizations who partner with us to ensure youth safety. We are committed to working with DHS, as we always have, so that we can continue serving the youth at East Bethel.”