ANNA, Ill. (WSIL) -- The Illinois Department of Humane Services (IDHS) announced on Monday the expansion of beds at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center.
IDHS stated the expansion of beds will be for mental health services in the civil units at the Choate campus in Anna.
The announcement from IDHS says they plan to launch the expansion at Choate on November 1, 2024.
Currently, IDHS states there are beds for 50 patients at the State-Operated Psychiatric Hospital at Choate with up to 25 more beds expected to be added throughout the next several months.
IDHS says this is part of a three-year transformation initiative which was announced by IDHS and Pritzker in March of 2023. The initiative states this is designed to repurpose portions of the Choate campus and reshape the way the state approaches care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“As the state continues to support the needs of residents at Choate Mental Health and Development Center, we are placing safety, respect, and community at the forefront,� said Governor JB Pritzker. “This new expansion, part of our ongoing transformation plan, ensures individualized care options for patients with serious mental health needs. I want to thank IDHS for their commitment and leadership as we focus on improving services for Illinoisans.�
IDHS reports the Choate campus is 229 acres which includes a State-Operated Developmental Center, a State-Operated Psychiatric Hospital, an IDHS local public benefits office and two case processing centers.
As part of the initiative, areas of the campus are expected to undergo some repurposing to meet patient capacity and other needs of the state.
The expansion is expected to help those across Illinois as it will accept former forensic patients who are ready to move to a less restrictive environment in working to return back into the community, IDHS stated.
IDHS also states this shift in expansion will help increase the capacity to provide forensic placement and in-patient restoration services more quickly. It's also reported residents at the Choate Developmental Center will continue to have opportunities to transition into community-based settings, private Intermediate Care Facilities or other centers across the state where they will receive comprehensive and personalized care.
“I want to thank Governor Pritzker for his focus on serving our patients in a community setting when possible, and ensuring we stay focused on supporting Choate residents, past and present,� said IDHS Secretary Designate Dulce M. Quintero.
Here is the three-year transformation initiative breakdown from IDHS...
In March 2023, Governor Pritzker and IDHS announced a transformation initiative to reshape the way the State approaches care for individuals with I/DD. The comprehensive plan included:
- Repurposing the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center over three years in partnership with SIU School of Medicine
- Implementing new safety enhancements at Choate and across all State-Operated Developmental Centers, including appointing a Chief Resident Safety Officer and now an Agency Safety Officer
- Expanding support for families and individuals to pursue opportunities for community-based living while continuing to invest in community provider capacity
For more information on the new phase of the three-year initiative, you may find it .
