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Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services say they are finishing a long‑planned move away from large institutions for people with developmental disabilities. But for workers, families and small towns in Southern Illinois, the state’s “transformation” looks like job cuts, broken promises, and a lot of questions. The latest change at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna deserves a plain answer: who pays the price for this so‑called progress?
What the state announced and how the governor defended it
State officials told staff at Choate that the facility’s general intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) units will cease operations and about 250 jobs could be cut as part of a “phase‑down.” The IDHS plan also calls for reducing civil mental health beds and shifting some capacity to northern Illinois, with operational deadlines tied to the phase‑down. When asked about the cuts, Governor JB Pritzker said the residents were moved to “better facilities,” and quoted that “at some point, you don’t need staff when there is nobody at that facility.” That answer sounds neat, but it leaves out how families, employees and the community are supposed to cope.
Local fallout, union outrage, and a federal probe
Union leaders and AFSCME warned this move will upend hundreds of Choate employees and weaken services for vulnerable people. Newly appointed Rep. Scott Doody of Anna is pushing a petition and called the decision a betrayal of local investment. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice is already investigating Illinois’ treatment of people with disabilities, a probe that includes allegations tied to Choate. That federal attention makes it even more important that Illinois be transparent and careful — not sudden and secretive.
Policy problems: promises, taxpayer money, and continuity of care
When the state announced the transformation plan earlier, officials said the work would not produce mass layoffs. Now, that assurance appears to have been quietly discarded. Taxpayers have poured money into improving Choate — money lawmakers and families expected to back real, stable care locally. If residents are being moved into smaller community settings, show the contracts, the oversight plans, and the staffing rosters. If staff are being laid off, show where they will go. Saying “it saves money” is a poor substitute for answering how care will continue and who will be held accountable if it does not.
What needs to happen next
The state should pause the layoffs and publish the IDHS transition plan in full. Secretary Dulce Quintero and IDHS need to explain how residents will be protected during transfers and where they are being placed. The governor should stop with the PR one‑liners and allow a public audit so families and lawmakers can see the facts. If these moves truly help patients and save money, produce the proof. If not, reverse course and protect both residents and the small towns that rely on Choate for jobs and care — because real reform shouldn’t look like walk‑away politics dressed up as progress.
