PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Health Services is allowing a Phoenix Southwest Key facility to start admitting minors again.
A statement from Southwest Key, a contractor that houses immigrant children detained at the border, says its Lighthouse shelter can admit children starting immediately.
DHS confirmed through an emailed statement that the facility, located at 14th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix, can accept a limited number of children per day as of Thursday.
DHS halted admissions to all 11 of the Arizona facilities back in October 2018 when Southwest Key surrendered its licenses for two locations after alleged misconduct involving staff.
The admissions hold remains in place at the 10 other Southwest Key facilities across the state, DHS said.
Southwest Key was also fined $73,000 and had to hire a third-party health care consultant to review the operations at the facilities as a result of the October agreement.
According to DHS, Southwest Key had to significantly restructure operations before it was permitted to accept children again at its Lighthouse shelter.
That process included:
- Hiring a third-party health care quality consultant
- Establishing an on-site monitor at the facility
- Undergoing a thorough inspection to ensure compliance with state law and all licensing rules
- Responding to and fully correcting all deficiencies discovered during the investigation of past complaints
- Agreeing to enhanced oversight, including unannounced inspections, at all Southwest Key facilities for two years
DHS says the decision to allow admissions at other Southwest Key locations will be made on a facility-by-facility basis as each location completes those outlined changes.
