Following the recent announcement regarding major operational changes at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, a delegation of Southern Illinois lawmakers and community stakeholders hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday night in Anna to discuss the future of the facility..
The open forum centered on the Illinois Department of Human Services’ announcement that it plans to significantly reduce operations at Choate, lay off employees and relocate dozens of patients.
The lawmakers said the announcement represents a major blow to Southern Illinois, impacting vulnerable patients, hundreds of employees and families throughout the region while raising serious questions about the long-term future of the Choate campus.
State Representative Scott Doody (R-Anna) told those in attendance the importance of getting their point across to state officials.
Under the plan, Choate’s general residential units serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will cease operations by September 30, 2026. IDHS will also phase out all 75 civil mental health beds at the facility. The closure is expected to be completed by March 2027, with civil mental health capacity instead being added at Madden Mental Health Center in Chicago.