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Pritzker won’t rule out closing Choate

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Illinois

* ProPublica Illinois story written by Beth Hundsdorfer of Capitol News Illinois, and Molly Parker and Brenden Moore of Lee Enterprises Midwest…

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called patient abuses at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in rural Anna “awful” and “deeply concerning,” and he said the future of the facility depends on correcting poor conditions.

Pritzker’s comments at a news conference on Tuesday came on the heels of articles published Friday by Capitol News Illinois, Lee Enterprises and ProPublica outlining a history of egregious patient abuses and other employee misconduct at Choate.

At least 26 employees over the past decade have been arrested on felony charges in relation to their work at the facility, and internal investigations have cited dozens of other employees for neglecting, exploiting or humiliating residents, lying to investigators, or failing to report allegations of mistreatment in a timely manner. In some cases, investigations have languished for years as accused employees have continued to receive their full pay while on administrative leave.

At least one advocacy organization called for the state to close Choate in the wake of the reports. Amie Lulinski, executive director of The Arc of Illinois, an advocacy organization for people with developmental disabilities, said the details of abuse and neglect are “appalling” and called on the state to move residents out of the facility and into smaller community-based living arrangements such as group homes.

Pritzker said the state isn’t currently planning to close Choate, but he didn’t rule it out if safety issues aren’t addressed.

“The question is, can we prevent that in the future? And if not, then obviously that’s not a facility that should remain open,” the governor said in response to a reporter’s questions at an unrelated event in downstate Decatur.

Meanwhile, he said, the “state has an obligation to the people that it serves at that facility right now” and is concentrating on upgrades to the facility and ensuring that appropriate services and personnel are in place. In a statement to reporters last week, Marisa Kollias, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Human Services, which runs Choate, said that the problems there are the result of “longstanding, entrenched issues” and that the department has taken “aggressive measures” to address them.

The push to close facilities like Choate is controversial, and some residents’ parents are advocating for less severe measures to address safety concerns.

There’s more, so go read the rest.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 9:13 am

Comments

“At least 26 employees over the past decade have been arrested on felony charges in relation to their work at the facility, and internal investigations have cited dozens of other employees for neglecting, exploiting or humiliating residents, lying to investigators, or failing to report allegations of mistreatment in a timely manner.”

“Pritzker said the state isn’t currently planning to close Choate, but he didn’t rule it out if safety issues aren’t addressed.”

Sometimes the only way forward is to start over.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 9:55 am
This is an outstanding piece of journalism by ProPublica Illinois and Beth Hundsdorfer of Capitol News Illinois, and Molly Parker and Brenden Moore of Lee Enterprises. Kudos to all.

Comment by jackmac Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:14 am
I spent a few years working in a group home after graduating college. Some homes in my region were successful, and others were not. The mission and goals and the quality of programming of each organization determined the success or failure of each home.

In that context, I would suggest “closing” Choate is not a reasonable solution. Firing management is a solution. If in 10 years, 26 felony arrests have occurred, then the employees and management are the problem.

In the 1970s and 1980s, we abandoned the “warehousing of developmentally disabled adults” under the premise that the least restrictive environment should prevail. It sounds here like Choate and its leadership team have forgotten their mission, and their legal responsibilities.

Transferring clients out may well create new burdens on the surrounding system of group homes, especially if the Choate clients are not quite ready to move into a new level of care (which is what Choate should be working to achieve).

I have to also wonder what quality of service and care is being provided in the regional group homes, and whether they are serving their mission to move people beyond the group home and into supervised living settings, or if they are creating a bottleneck issue. If the latter, then more group homes are needed.

Perhaps the state needs to rethink its current model, and re-envision how Choate can be made functional again. But closing the facility and transplanting residents would be a knee-jerk solution to a systemic problem. The solution must be systemic. New management is required, and a review of all current personnel is a reasonable first step.

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:25 am
Agree H-W. The state over the years has attempted to close the state centers, by placing people in small group homes that were not able to provide the specialized services many of our disabled individuals need to live safe, and successful lives. The mission and goals and quality of programming, as you stated make all the difference. A large center can be very successful, and so much depends on the “culture of the center”, and the demands for quality services The same with the small group homes. So many individuals who eventually move to the state centers have had horrific experiences in the small group homes, and finally feel safe in the larger center. I know this because many are my friends, and their stories of what happened in their small group homes (sanctioned by DHS) are heartbreaking. Often these homes receive a slap on the wrist, and then reopen under another name. Big is not always bad, and small is not always good. That is called choice.

Comment by Grateful Gail Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:54 am
This stuff happens when we don’t have sufficient monitors and on site inspection by a third party who is there on behalf of the patient and families. That’s where I might start.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:14 am
These facilities have been patronage havens over the years. When you hire based on politics, you usually don’t get the best and brightest.

Comment by Lake Springfield Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:24 am
I’m guessing the DOJ will be on Choate’s door steps in the near future and that Federal CMS will be evaluating it’s continuation of funding and a formalized plan to close will follow.

Comment by We’ll See Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:45 pm
Once again the issue of Hou ignoring the chief of security’s concerns is not addressed in your story.

Comment by Confused Citizen Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:46 pm