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* From the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health…
As the Illinois legislature struggles to craft a budget by its May 31 adjournment deadline, the Schuyler County Mental Health Center is adding itself to the list of behavioral health centers across the state that is in danger of closing within the next 10 days.
“We have been waiting for multiple payments from the State of Illinois for multiple months and have been unable to consistently meet payroll,” said Executive Director Trent Chockley. “And we’re not only waiting for payment for mental health and substance abuse treatment services, but we also have unpaid bills from the Illinois Department on Aging.”
The agency provides services to nearly 60 people, over the age of 60, every month and the state owes Schuyler a total of $64,000 for just the services provided under the Illinois Department on Aging’s Community Care Program.
“The State of Illinois continues to add deserving clients to their list that we need to serve, but has no willingness to pay the bills,” said Chockley. “We are dangerously close to shutting our doors for good without payment by June 1.”
A top behavioral health advocate group warned lawmakers and Governor Bruce Rauner that the collapse of the Schuyler County Center will be their responsibility if they fail to agree to a fiscal year 2018 budget by the end of May.
“Governor Rauner and lawmakers will bear the responsibility of Schuyler shutting down if they fail to agree, once again, to a budget by May 31,” said Illinois Association for Behavioral Health C.E.O. Sara Howe. “Their failure to enact a budget after more than two years mocks their repeated talking points about the purported priority of behavioral health in Illinois.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 9:48 am
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First, I hope this loss can be avoided. Second, shame on all of them.
Comment by CCP Hostage Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 9:56 am
None of this should surprise anyone. Human Service agencies have been running large deficits, borrowing way more than they should to stay open until money again flows. Boards are coming to the realization that even if a budget ever gets passed, it might be too late for them to dig out.
The larger cities will eventually recover, new talent will start new nonprofits and eventually things will get back to normal…however, downstate and rural areas may never (or at least not with a lot more spending on workforce development). Once those agencies close, once those practitioners leave the field - they don’t come back.
The state was already dangerously low regarding access to care and practitioner levels in these areas. This self-inflicted disaster is likely the tipping point.
Comment by Kyle Hillman Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 10:11 am
This is far more than a crisis. Statewide social service providers have not been paid for nearly two years. The homeless population is growing daily, people with mental health issues are wandering the streets, poor, elderly people are not being fed. This is a ticking time bomb. The end result will affect all of us in a very negative way. We need the courts to step in and demand action. The governor has been an abysmal failure to those in need. He needs to stop campaigning and do his job.
Comment by Flynn's Mom Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 10:27 am
What Kyle said.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 10:32 am
Sara Howe -
As long as you continue to distribute blame evenly, Governor Rauner’s office sees it as a victory, and the sabotaging of grand bargains, the moving of goal posts, the enflaming of partisanship will continue.
Human services have tried desperately not to upset the administration while it slowly suffocates them for the past two years, and it has not gotten them a budget.
Insanity to expect a different result this time.
Remember the Future Farmers of America?
Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 11:19 am
Social services were funded before Rauner became the governor.
Closing social services is on Rauner, period!
Comment by Mama Tuesday, May 23, 17 @ 4:11 pm
There is not a more professional and caring people, than those serving in the Schuyler County Agency, led by Mr. Chockley! They deserve full support from the State!!
Comment by Rodney Wednesday, May 24, 17 @ 9:56 am