JUDSON CENTER TO CLOSE ITS LAHSER CHILDREN’S RESPITE HOME
State policy and financial losses lead to tough decision for agency
Farmington Hills, MI – Human service agency Judson Center has made the difficult decision to close its Lahser Children’s Respite Home in Beverly Hills, Michigan, effective September 28, 2025.
Since 1986, the home has provided much-needed respite services for parents and caregivers of children, teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It serves as a “home away from home” for young people with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Down syndrome, and other IDDS. They can stay anywhere from one night to a few weeks. It’s the only respite home of its kind in Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
However, the State of Michigan has ruled that Judson Center is no longer in compliance with Michigan Public Act 116, which prohibits a childcare institution from accepting both adults and minors for care and custody in the same facility.
“We were granted a variance 38 years ago, which allowed us to also provide respite care at the home for young adults through age 26 if they already had been receiving services before their 18th birthday,” explained Judson Center President & CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster. “Now, after a review by state attorneys, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), which oversees the Medicaid coverage for respite benefits for people with disabilities, did not renew the waiver. As a result, we are unable to serve our consumers in the older age group, and they made up more than half of our clientele.”
Hardy-Foster said the current utilization rate of the home is too low and consequently represents a substantial financial loss to the agency. “We have explored numerous alternative options for the use of the home, but all of them would require much needed funding to assist with the start-up and operations. These are funds that Judson Center does not have. Public Act 116 can only be changed through an amendment that requires a vote by the State Senate and House of Representatives. We have met numerous times with the legislators who say the amendment process could take months or more than a year.”
Judson Center has been serving nearly 50 families annually at the Lahser Children’s Respite Home. The agency has met with the families and is assisting with finding alternative options for respite care. The home’s five staff members have been presented with open positions within the agency.
About Judson Center
Judson Center,trusted by Michigan families for more than 100 years, is a non-profit human service agency providing expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, and developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being, and maximum potential. Since opening its doors in 1924, Judson Center has grown to change the lives of more than 13,000 children, adults, and families each year. Judson Center has offices in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, Genesee, and Jackson counties. Judson Center’s headquarters are located at 30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3277. Learn more at www.judsoncenter.org.