Community reacts to layoffs, patient relocations at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center

The state recently announced plans for staff layoffs and patient relocations at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Illinois. These changes are part of a broader plan initiated by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2023 to shift care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities away from large institutions.

Local residents and community members are expressing significant concern regarding the impact of these developments on the surrounding region. Many view the facility as a vital economic engine for Union County. Beyond the loss of jobs, residents highlight that the campus has served as a community hub for decades, and they fear the closure of beds will reduce access to essential mental health services for families in the area.

Tina Rivero Winfield, president of AFSCME Local 141, stated that the union received prior assurances that no layoffs would occur this year. She described the sudden notification as a total shock to the workforce. Union leadership remains committed to bargaining in good faith while expressing concerns about the well-being of the staff and the patients who rely on these services.

According to state data, the general developmental disabilities population at Choate has fallen from 199 to 16 residents since the transformation plan began. State officials have confirmed that the 40-bed forensic program will remain operational. Affected employees are being offered positions at other state facilities throughout Southern Illinois to mitigate the impact of the staffing reductions.