Choate Mental Health and Development Center

ANNA, Ill. — Union leaders, lawmakers and political candidates gathered alongside dozens of employees from the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center on Tuesday to rally against the state’s plan to make dramatic cuts to staff and services at the downstate mental health facility.

The Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in southern Illinois will lay off staff and undergo several operational changes in the coming months, including the elimination of the state-run facility’s entire general residential program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Investigation includes Choate and other state-operated developmental living centers

Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Illinois is facing charges for abusing a patient.

Cameras were installed at southern Illinois facility in light of reports of abuse, cover-ups

Prompted by an outcry over abuse, Illinois proposed moving residents from Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center to similar facilities in the state. New reporting shows the problems at Choate are common throughout the statewide system.

Pritzker says cultural issues at facility are ‘something that you can’t snap your fingers and fix’

Ongoing investigations of state-run facility have revealed culture of abuse and cover-ups

Mental health technician was on paid leave, previously charged with child molestation

Charles W. Mills had been getting paid for more than a year while under investigation and on leave