State Slow to Overhaul Downstate Mental Health Facility Plagued by Abuse, Watchdog Finds

Gov. JB Pritzker’s Administration Slowed in Transferring Residents Out of Troubled Facility

Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration isn’t moving quickly enough to transfer developmentally disabled residents out of a southern Illinois facility with a disturbing history of abuse, according to a federally mandated monitor’s report released Thursday.

Residents Relocated to Large State-Run Facilities Instead of Community-Based Settings

And residents who have been relocated from the troubled Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in downstate Anna have too often ended up in large state-run facilities instead of community-based settings that were promised as part of the overhaul being carried out by Pritzker’s Department of Human Services.

Monitor’s Midpoint Assessment Highlights Concerning Barriers to Reform

That’s according to a midpoint assessment conducted by Equip for Equality, the monitor group Pritzker appointed under federal mandate to evaluate the state’s progress on the transition plan launched by the governor in March 2023.

Federal Monitor Finds State Faces “Concerning Barriers” to Fixing the System

The state faces “concerning barriers” to fix the system in that time frame, independent monitors found.

CEO Zena Naiditch: “Without Significant Additional Resources and Systemic Reform, Illinois Will Not Fulfill Its Commitment”

“Our midpoint assessment makes it clear that without significant additional resources and systemic reform, Illinois will not fulfill its commitment to provide community-based living options for people with disabilities,” Equip for Equality CEO Zena Naiditch said in a statement. “The challenges at Choate reflect broader issues within Illinois’ developmental disability service system, and this is a critical, once-in-a-generation opportunity to create real, lasting change.”

State Officials Agree with Most of the Monitor’s Findings, Insisting that Many Recommendations are “Currently Being Developed and Implemented”

State officials agreed with most of the monitor’s findings, insisting that many of their recommendations “are currently being developed and implemented.”

Developmental Disabilities Division Director Tonya Piephoff: “IDHS Remains Committed to Helping Individuals, Families, and Their Guardians Identify Living Arrangements of Their Choice”

“This report affirms that we are aligned with our efforts to provide education for individuals to have informed choices on options for their future living arrangements,” the state’s Developmental Disabilities Division director, Tonya Piephoff, said in a response letter. “IDHS remains committed to helping individuals, families, and their guardians identify living arrangements of their choice, in the least restrictive environment.”

A 2022 Investigation Revealed a Culture of Abuse and Cover-Ups at Choate

A 2022 investigation published by Capitol News Illinois, Lee Enterprises and ProPublica revealed a culture of abuse and cover-ups at Choate, where state police opened at least 40 criminal investigations into alleged employee misconduct within a decade.

Pritzker’s Response: Cameras Installed, and 123 People Moved Out of Choate

That prompted Pritzker to order cameras installed at all state-run developmental centers, and to start moving 123 people out of Choate.

But Progress Slow, with Only 48 People Relocated, and Most Sent to Large State Facilities

As of September, 48 people had been relocated, including 33 sent to other large state facilities — and just 10 moved into small, community-based settings that experts say provide better conditions for residents.

Much Work Remains: 31 Residents Waiting for Spots in Other State Institutions, and 33 Awaiting Community Placement

Another 33 residents awaiting community placement have been waiting more than nine months for a spot, some waiting more than a year. And with 31 waiting for spots in other state institutions, that means more than half the affected Choate residents will likely end up in large institutions, “often without real consideration of their preference for or ability to benefit from community living,” the monitor found.

Equipping for Equality Calls for More Community Housing Options, Improved Interagency Coordination, and Enhanced Mental Health Services

Equip for Equality called on the state to expand community housing options that are especially lacking in southern and central Illinois. They also recommended the state allocate more resources and improve interagency coordination to speed up the Choate transition. The state also needs to enhance overall mental health services and do a better job of providing independent advocates for residents who disagree with their guardians’ decisions.

Conclusion

The state’s slow progress in transferring residents out of the troubled Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center highlights the need for more significant changes to the system. The lack of community-based living options and the reliance on large state-run facilities are concerning and require immediate attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What is the current status of the transition plan for Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center?
The state has met nearly half of the original transition and transfer goal at Choate in 21 months.
* What are the main concerns of the monitor’s report?
The report highlights the state’s slow progress, lack of community-based living options, and the need for improved interagency coordination, resource allocation, and mental health services.
* What is the current living situation for residents relocated from Choate?
Many have been relocated to large state-run facilities, while only a few have been moved into small, community-based settings.