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* Gov. Pat Quinn reiterated his solid support for closing state facilities for the developmentally disabled last week…
Quinn made a point of reiterating his belief that residents of those facilities will be better off in community-based settings than in a state institution.
“I do believe in community care,” Quinn said. “I’m not sympathetic to the institutional approach.”
* But…
The governor’s comments came as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union slammed the administration for the way it is handling the moving of residents out of Jacksonville.
AFSCME said a contractor hired by the Illinois Department of Human Services has moved residents out of the institution with just 48 hours’ notice, no advance visits to determine the propriety of the placement and over the objections of staff.
AFSCME said one resident fell and suffered a broken bone after being moved, even though Jacksonville employees had objected to the placement of this individual.
“Given this level of dysfunction, we urge DHS to embrace the decision by the General Assembly to fully fund (Jacksonville Developmental Center),” the letter notes. “At the very least we urge you to slow this rushed process and do what you publicly promised — to transition residents only as quickly as safety allows.”
* The Quinn administration’s response…
DHS issued a statement Thursday calling AFSCME’s allegations “absurd and misleading.”
“The process of transitioning individuals out of Jacksonville has been and will continue to be careful and deliberate,” DHS said. “There have been months of planning in this process, including the assessment of individuals’ needs, and those individuals were given the opportunity to visit sites and in some cases stay there to get a feel for their new environment. The individuals continue to be monitored weekly and are doing quite well.”
It’s tough to discern who’s right without a lot more information. Accidents do happen and transitions of this sort are never easy. I think we’ll need more evidence than a broken bone to see if DHS is doing the right thing here. Your thoughts?
* Roundup…
* State still losing taxes due from online sales The $9.4 million in self-reported sales taxes from online purchases so far this year in Illinois is up nearly 24 percent from the same period of 2011, according to figures from the state Department of Revenue. But more than a year after the Main Street Fairness Act attempted to step up enforcement, even supporters of the law acknowledge an estimated $150 million in sales taxes due from online sales go uncollected in Illinois.
* No limit on cigarette tax stamps, judge says: Illinois must sell as many cigarette tax stamps to distributors as they want, a Sangamon County judge decided Thursday. Shortly after the ruling, one distributor bought $13.2 million worth of stamps from the state, more than the state normally sells to all distributors in an entire week.
* Measure would put small dent in backlog of state’s bills: Illinois lawmakers have found a way to whittle $1.3 billion from state government’s massive backlog of unpaid bills, but it comes too late for The Counseling Center of Lake View. The Chicago nonprofit, a mental health services provider, shut down at the end of April, waiting on about $200,000 in state money.
* HOPF: Video poker hands about to be dealt
* Generous no more, Illinois cuts Medicaid spending
* Advocates for poor condemn Illinois Medicaid cuts
* Illinois to cut $1.6B in health costs; Medicaid advocates protest
* Training funds may be out of governor’s reach as tool to attract, keep businesses in Illinois - Lawmakers want to dispense $6.8 million through five private entities, leaving the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in control of $615,800, down from $11 million in fiscal 2012
* Bill requiring state actuary about to become law: A bill requiring Illinois to hire a state actuary to report on the pension systems is about to become law. Democratic state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie sponsored it. She says it’s simply a second set of eyes to go over figures that Illinois’ five pension systems already provide.
* Lansing’s Last-Day Raises Last a Lifetime
* Thousands of Quad-Citians will feel effect of Medicaid cuts
* Vote expected this summer on schools funding teachers’ pensions
* School Districts Face State Funding Cuts
* Higher dropout age gets little support
* Watchdog: How safe is your child’s school? It’s hard to find out - Across Illinois, districts fail to let state know about thousands of cases involving drugs, weapons and attacks on teachers
* Most suburbs keeping fireworks displays
* Lawmakers warn minimum wage increase not dead
* ComEd pushes for delay on installing smart meters
* Will shipping firm be a big boost to MidAmerica?
* State RICO law unlikely to be used much in central Illinois
* City elevator inspections miss big number of lifts - Annual checkups not done on 65 percent
* Law ensures police, others can do roadside charity
* Contraceptive mandate stirs local Catholics - Rallies support archdiocese’s opposition, but some parishioners take another view
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:50 pm
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Great, a new state actuary to tell politicians if they don’t make the employer contribution, there won’t be enough money to pay the pensions.
Comment by Liberty_First Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:58 pm
One question I’m not seeing asked enough in this Jacksonville resident’s injury: Wasn’t an AFSCME employee the one transporting the resident? Why is the attention focused on Quinn?
Comment by Emanuel Collective Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:07 pm
@EC
The letter from AFSCME states that the broken bone was a result of CRA ignoring nurse recommendation that two staff members were required to transport the resident using the lift, and that she only had one person attending her.
Is that true? Who can say. Just AFSCME’s claim.
Comment by Ronald RayGun Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:24 pm
Hand Out Andy is promoting another pension “disclosure” today…this one in Lansing
“However, the Illinois Department of Insurance, which regulates public-sector benefits, admonished the village’s pension funds to halt the practice in 1995 …..”
1995 let’s that was during the reign of ……
Woner when the reformers or the media will begin admiting they were snoozin’ when this was going on?
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:34 pm
Wait… residents aren’t self-reporting sales taxes on online purchases? I’m shocked!
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:38 pm
48 hours notice?
I am no AFSCME fan, but if their claims prove true this is beyond frustrating.
The least we can do is treat our citizens with a small modicum of respect and dignity in the process of moving - these are people, not cattle to be herded.
Governor Quinn’s staff and DHS were adamant in their statements and promises before CoGFA, the media and the public that these individuals would be protexted and treated in a respectful, comprehensive fashion that ultimately works to their benefit and the state’s. These claims undermine all that.
Even so, come on… there are right ways and wrong ways to do this. It’s frustrating to consider when you put yourself in the shoes of these families.
Comment by Freeman Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:47 pm
AFSCME is getting desperate over the potential loss of members and therefore swoops down on any negative occurrence in community services. Intensive planning takes place before any resident is moved from Jacksonville into the community and nothing is rushed until all the support needs of the individual are identified. If our state institutions are so wonderful, why is the U.S. Justice Department continually watch-dogging them?
Comment by gathersno Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:56 pm
Didn’t mean to rant. Just very frustrating to consider these claims.
The root of frustration stems from the fact these individuals are some of the weakest among us. If there is something bad occurring, these families and their loved ones don’t enjoy the resources and access that would make it easier to draw attention to this. After all, it isn’t exactly the loved ones of wealthy political donors who are being impacted by this.
The least we should be doing as a state is keep an eye on things during and after this transition.
Especially with Governor “Man of the People” aka “Soy Boy” in office. Guess, I’ll go post something lighthearted in the QOTD now.
Comment by Freeman Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 2:02 pm
It is absolutely Orwellian that Quinn is able to proclaim with impunity that he is against institutional care when he just signed legislation that makes the institutionalization of kids who are medically fragile and technology dependent much more likely.
At least the NY Times Op-Ed page is willing to point out some of this lunacy, even if local media do not:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/opinion/vulnerable-to-reform.html?smid=pl-share
Comment by Sam Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 2:33 pm
I am so upset with DHS. As a parent of a Murray Center resident we have been promised over and over by Kevin Casey, MArk Doyle, and Michael Gelder that our loved ones will be taken care, and they are already breaking their promises. Why should we believe anything they say. I have also contacted Michelle Sadler and Sheila Romano about these issues and have received no response. Remember….these are REAL, LIVE people’s lives you are talking about….what if they were your child or loved one??????
Comment by Persistant parent Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:06 pm
The employee who was attending to the resident was NOT an AFSCME employee, Employees of CILAs are not unionized, make minimum wage or a fraction more, and there is terrible turnover in these facilities. That is why parents and people with any moral sense are very worried.Many of us have had our loved ones in community placements where they were abused, attacked, and actually several haved died within months of being placed in a facility setting. I’m speaking as a father, not an AFSCME employee. At least with the union we get quality workers who stick around for longer than a few months, and are trained.
Comment by Fuming Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:09 pm
The care takers were not union that dropped this individual, they worked for a private home which CRA picked for her. CRA is the outfit that Governor Quinn hired to assess the residents for placement in the community. JDC told CRA that this person needed 2 people to transport and instead they said 1 person to move her. They talk about “person centered plans” for all the residents and so far they have failed to provide that. Thesr are people that don’t care how they move them as long as they meet their quota by Oct.31. And as far as watchdogs, where was Don Moss when Lincoln closed and 29 people died in the community? Didn’t hear a word from him or the Arc of Illinois about the deaths. So this disasterous plan that Quinn and CRA and DHS has needs more time to safely do the transitions.
Comment by for real Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:13 pm
Quinn was sympathetic with Lincoln parents/guardians in 2002 when Ryan closed LDC down. So there you go folks, that’s the reality of politics. Tell them anything for a vote. But the real reality is this Administration’s plan is guillotine style.
Comment by for real Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:29 pm
According to a study done of former Lincoln Developmental Center residents, there were 55 deaths. Six of the 55 had been transitioned to commu8nity residences and the remaining were sent to other state facilities.
Comment by gathersno Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:34 pm
I am disgusted with DHS. They are not thinking about our loved ones at all. My son lives at Murray Center, and functions like a baby!!!! Don’t tell me someone with a few days training can care for all his medical/physical needs. Governor Quinn does not care one iota about our loved ones…..it is all about money. What does this say about our society…..we don’t treat the least among us with dignity. Quinn would love it if they all died and disappeared….sorry….they are here to stay and need our love and care. Murray Center provides that!!!!!
Comment by JustJitty Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:52 pm
This is shameful. DHS will backtrack and make up some kind of story. When CRA, the group being paid $150,000 to move the residents from Jacksonville, was told this resident needed two people on staff at all times (told by the QMRP, who knew the resident and had worked with her)they decided they knew better than people who worked with this person. The saddest is that this person had a state assigned guardian, and no parent to fight for her rights. Is this how we treat the disabled? We are supposed to trust Kevin Casey, MArk Doyle, and Michelle SAdler when they have so little respect for the very people they are supposed to be helping. SHAMEFUL!!!!!
Comment by Millie's MAD Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:54 pm
I think the people who call Jacksonville an institution should go and visit it my son lives there he has his own bedroom they eat family style he has his own tv and I don’t have to worry about his care he was in a communtiy setting he was abused at his first place and because of the poor trained staff he was arrested twice because the staff didn’t know how to handle his being upset and that was because a they didn’t have a Dr to monitor his medicine JDC does more than just house our children the staff cares about them and makes sure all there needs are meet when my son had to go to the hospital they were there to make sure he had all of his needs meet so he was not scared they have a Dr that sees to his meds and a Dentist and Psychiatrist to monitor his meds in there community living we will not have that and there is not a psychiatrist that will take the medical card so those who keep saying community living is the best my son might be 36 but the mind of a 7 year old would you want your 7 year old living in a 2 or 4 person apartment with help that might show up and is not trained to there needs or the meds that they need I want the Gov or Kevin Casey to put there child in that situation and she how they like it
Comment by Parent of JDC resident Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 4:25 pm
I worked in disabilities adult services for 20 years, including residential case management and group home management, but even if I hadn’t this disaster is not too hard to predict. Strangers moving ANYBODY with a mere 48 hours’ notice and without extra support is unthinkable. Medical problems (e.g., seizures) can worsen and behavioral problems will worsen with even the best of care. Also, the rush and apparent lack of planning make me worry that the violent and predatory will be (through ignorance or disregard) housed with the weak and vulnerable without adequate safety planning and staff presence. I will be praying for the residents, especially those without strong, engaged advocates.
Comment by yinn Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 4:55 pm
The whole elevator inspection program is just one giant scam. The state program got passed back in 2001(?), and statewide enforcement (except for City of Chicago) was state mandated back then. All statewide enforcement (outside of Chicago) was to be handled by the State Fire Marshall’s office.
I know the entire scam from start to finish, including the IL State Auditor’s audit on the program back in 2003(?).
If you ever sat through one of those elevator inspection task force meetings at Thompson, you could literally “smell the meat a cookin” (Re: Late Sec. of State Paul Powell).
The only state mandated program worse than this one is the entire cross-connection (annual backflow) inspection racket.
Talk about a system of legalized extortion…
Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 6:09 pm
Could we perhaps ask AFSCME to produce the daily reports for DHS State Operated Centers? I suspect they would not do that because it might show accidents happen even while people are being cared for by AFSCME members.
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 7:04 pm
To Give me a AFSCME is not saying accidents happen but the people moving the resident were told that they would need two people in which to transfer that resident and they chose to ignore there advice and in less than a week a person has not to suffer a broken leg and surgery and a long recuperation period because they chose to ignore advice how would you feel if that was your family member that has had to suffer because of it I don’t want that to be my child I have read articles when this same thing was done in Penn. and a boy was restranted wrong and was sufficated to death it scares me to death why can’t they leave them alone they aren’t hurting anybody balance the budget on somebody elses life not those who aren’t to blame for the mess the state is in
Comment by Parent of JDC Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 7:39 pm
Sometime in the late 70’s or early 80’s,DHS decided to go the “community care” route. These poor souls were shipped out to various towns and cities with little support or monitoring.They made ideal targets for predators or in some instances became predators themselves.There might of been success stories.—-I’m not impressed with AFSCME,but the planning done by DHS was probably was half a–ed when you consider the management’s past performance.
Comment by Jimbo Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 7:54 pm
State employees have to fill out an incident report and besides that who’s going to report an incident in the community? They going to report themselve? Fat chance of that! Maybe we should ask Don Moss and the other pro-advocates to really show the statistics on abuse and neglect in community homes.Abuse and neglect is up 33% in community homes since 2006. Paul McCann died from being beaten over a cookie and the Graywood home was still licensed after other reports of abuse was reported and DHS “DID NOT” intervene until it was too late.
Comment by for real Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 8:00 pm
I don’t know about this. It is the season for AFSCME to pull out all the stops, and pounce on anything they can to justify more jobs, less facility closures. They get a lot of news doing that. That doesn’t mean that DHS never makes a mistake, or that accidents don’t happen.
Comment by state worker Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 9:18 pm
The State of Illinois is using the same closure plan Director Casey used when he was in Pennsylvania. That plan is flawed and dangerous. Read the report by pasting to your browswer. http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/archives/Performance/GroupHome0400/FinalRpt.html
Comment by Guardianof2 Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 9:37 pm
When Children’s Memorial Hospital recently moved, it went smoothly. There were no problems whatsoever.
Comment by Emily Booth Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 9:54 pm
This accident could have been prevented. Quite a difference when 2 people were recommended ( several times by JDC staff) and CRA didn’t listen. And it is the season for false promises from the governor’s office.
Comment by for real Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 10:51 pm
People should ask the JDC resident whose arm was broken where she wants to live. Heard a rumor she did not want to live in JDC.
Always look for the whole story.
Comment by Quill Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:00 pm
Wasn’t her arm that was broken. She had a state guardian. And like I said false promises. She probabely heard a lot of them from DHS and CRA.
Comment by for real Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:11 pm
To Emily, the move went smoothly? Where is this facility located and where did the residents move to? It is what happens to them next that is most important. Abuse, beatings, neglect, death, fires. Once they move out of state facilities there is no one to monitor accusations of abuse. Deaths are not investigated properly or timely.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 12:01 am
anon 12:01; Do you not know what Children’s Memorial Hospital is? Where is the facility located? Once they move out of state facilities? Lord save us!
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 12:27 am
The Governor does not know what he is talking about when he states that community care is uniformly better. One of the residents of a state institution whom we know well is a severe schizophrenic who killed his father when delusional. No community care institution can deal with individuals who have this extreme likelihood of harm to others, yet they are also not appropriate for penal institutions, because the cause of the harm is mental illness completely.
Comment by jake Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 3:38 am
Thank you to everyone who has posted here, regardless of your opinions. The thing is, they are opinions based on what you believe you know. I turn to the people who DO know; who have toured facilities, interviewed the players during public hearings, studied the charts, the numbers, the process; those people who have come to educated conclusions and believe that what the Governor is doing is wrong, and how he is doing it is harmful. Until he comes for himself, looks into the eyes of these residents; attempts to have a conversation with an intellectually disabled resident; listens to the staff who care for them and KNOWS for himself that his decision is valid and that money is more important than these citizens, I will continue to fight for the rights of them to live the life they know. For those of you who think what’s happening is okay: The jury is in and their verdict is that JDC should remain open. Who is this judge who can overturn the verdict? Is this really how you hope the process works?
Comment by mybrothersguardian Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 5:27 am
My brother lives in a CILA (community based home). He is high functioning and can tell us what is going on and we can deal with the problems.The vast majority of the people at SODCs function at a very low level or have severe emotional needs. These needs cannot be met in the community. As a nurse I know that community facilities do not have nurses in the building (home) at all times….SODCs do. These most fragile residents need round the clock medical care…..I’ve talked to local community providers and they have been told by Mark Doyle that there will NOT be additional money available. Mark Doyle also told this provider that DHS was moving these residents like a pilot building his plane as they are flying….they really don’t have a plan!!!!!! And these are real live people…..obviously money is their concern….lives do not matter!
Comment by NurseNancy Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 7:48 am
Nurse Nancy: Go to COGFA’s web site, the plans were filed with COGFA months ago and they are posted on the site.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 8:44 am
gathersno is a well known proponent of facility closures and as such, the claimed knowledge of what is happening at Jacksonville must be taken with a grain of the proverbial salt. So called months of planning does not mitigate the fact of 48 hour resident notification and movement to a community residence. Further, the emphasis on first moving residents who are wards of the State and have no familial guardian is despicable. Caring for the residents of Jacksonville or any other SODC is not babysitting.
Comment by georgea Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 11:02 am
Doesn’t look like they are following the person centered plans that they put on the COGFA site. Plain and simple.
Comment by for real Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 11:21 am
I strongly oppose the rushed transition of residents from JDC. It can’t be in their best interests. Their must be compassion for our most vulnerable citizens.
Comment by whitehair Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 4:24 pm
I also strongly oppose the rushed transition of these people from JDC and it didn’t take them long to mess up. Have they forgotten these are PEOPLE!! Not science projects. We have agencies that make sure animals are treated better than this. I feel if they continue on this path with our developmentally disabled citizens we will be making a huge mistake and instead of progressing forward, we will be moving backwards, leaving our loved ones at the mercy of God knows who,with little to no care. They will be sitting ducks for predators and leaves me to wonder if they will ever see daylight again? Once they’re moved out who will care then. Kevin Casey?? Mark Doyle?? Michelle Saddler?? Governor Quinn?? Who was there for Paul McCann?? Very SHAMEFUL!!
Comment by concerned parent Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 7:06 pm