March 16, 2023
Please note that in the previous version of this communication sent 3/13/23, there was a small typo in the email address for questions. Please email DHS.DDD.Transformation@illinois.gov.
Choate Developmental Center Transformation
Employee FAQ
As of March 16, 2023
BIG PICTURE
Why was Choate selected for this transformation?
The transformation at Choate is one significant step toward improving the overall system for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (II/DD) in Illinois. Our goal is to provide the best possible, person-centered, family- and guardian-informed residential options for all people with II/DD across the state. Strengthening the full continuum of care in Illinois for I/DD residents has been a key priority for years - and significant change and improvement at Choate is a necessary part of this. Choate's employees, residents, and families have endured some very difficult and negative public attention in the past, but this alone is not why Choate has been chosen to embark on a transformation.
Choate is well suited for repurposing due to the number of State government entities already on and close to the campus (the IDHS Mental Health Center, three IDHS public benefits offices, and the neighboring IDVA Veterans Home, for example). There is an acute statewide need for more beds for people with Serious Mental Illness, and a hospital for this population is already on campus - and with a concerted effort, it can be expanded. Currently dormant buildings on campus could be returned to active use as a part of this process.
JOB SECURITY AND EMPLOYMENT CHANGES
What about my job?
IDHS is committed to ensuring that every hard-working, dedicated, and compassionate Choate Developmental Center worker continues employment with the State. For both union and merit comp staff: IDHS needs you - and many more good employees like you!
The vast majority of Choate employees are not and have never been guilty of misconduct. These good and decent individuals will not lose employment due to this transformation. The State has hundreds of current staff vacancies to fill - right on campus, and within a close distance of the campus. As Illinois and the rest of the country experiences a workforce crisis, it is crucial that we work together to retain the strongest possible workforce.
IDHS is not closing the Choate campus facilities. Rather, IDHS is carefully optimizing its use and repurposing (and potentially reopening unused parts) of it to make progress on crucial and urgent State needs. It is our goal that changes to individual employment as a result of this transformation should be positive - opportunities to advance professionally and to strengthen the Choate campus and other IDHS and State offices and facilities as part of the 3-year transformation.
For union members: Any impact on employees as a result of the transformation will be bargained with the relevant union in good faith.
Will I have to travel/move?
Our goal is to ensure that any employment transitions made as a part of this transformation will not require relocation. Many employees will remain on campus in a similar or better position. In some cases, employees could be offered alternative State employment at a State office or facility near Anna, IL.
What guarantee will I have that I will have a job - can I stay and work at Choate?
We want to reassure everyone that it is our goal to keep employees who want to stay working at Choate on campus as the facility transforms over the next three years. All public servants in good standing are deeply valued and will be retained in roles that continue to serve the public interest in Southern Illinois.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
What kind of updates and communication will we receive moving forward?
As employees, you will receive regular updates about the pace and timing of resident transfers, repurposing, capital, improvements, and any other potential changes to the Choate campus. We envision those updates coming in at least monthly communications to staff. In addition, we are in the process of planning town hall meetings with Choate staff and IDHS leadership staff to provide updates and to ensure that all of your questions are answered. Employees are encouraged to email DDD.Transformation@illinois.gov with questions or suggestions.
Why aren't the good things Choate does in the media?
Unfortunately, media can focus in on one part of a complex story and not acknowledge that the vast majority of hard-working, dedicated staff have been faithfully providing high quality care. The reputation of the entire facility is impacted by the serious misconduct of a small fraction of staff. Through the current transformation plan, we hope we can create a new, forward-looking focus on care and safety improvements and on the strong, clear actions taken to address and overcome challenges from the past.
Why didn't IDHS fight the media misinformation and make sure those types of things made it to the paper?
With any media inquiry, IDHS acknowledges and lifts up the hard-working, dedicated employees who have and continue to make up the vast majority of staff at Choate. That important acknowledgement does not make it into all of the media stories. Likewise, the IDHS communications office has a duty to be honest and transparent. IDHS has to share facts, context, direct answers, and proactive information. Unfortunately, there have also been many negative situations at Choate that have been a focus of media interest. IDHS has had to acknowledge the seriousness of the heartbreaking, isolated cases of misconduct, while pointing out that unfounded allegations have also been made - some of which have been traumatic and life-altering for those who were wrongly accused. We hope to create a new, forward-looking focus on care and safety improvements and on the strong, clear actions taken to address and overcome challenges from the past.
SIU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Will we be able to see the outcome of the recommendations?
Yes. The SIU team's first recommendations are expected July 1. They will be shared in future communications with staff.
What if SIU says close Choate?
The agreement with SIU is to advise on the best path forward to optimize and improve Choate, not to close it. Their charge is to provide objective expertise and analysis for IDHS on the smartest approach - aimed to continue operations onsite for additional Mental Health care, to determine whether specialized DD resident populations should remain on campus, and to examine state and regional workforce needs that can be met in Anna. SIU is making recommendations, not final decisions.
Who is SIU to say how the campus should be used?
Dr. Kari Wolf, leader of the Behavioral Health Workforce Center (BHWC), and other experts from the SIU Carbondale and SIU School of Medicine Springfield campuses will provide input and recommendations to IDHS. They will not make final decisions. SIU is not an "oversight body." They will bring experts on Mental Health and Disabilities to factually assess the entire picture, which includes some internal factors but also a wide variety of external trends that may drive utilization needs for the site in the future. Based on their research, they will share their ideas for the best path forward - especially related to the specialized DD populations served at Choate (forensic, stepdown, and dual DD+MH diagnosis).
More on the BHWC is here: Behavioral Health Workforce Center (illinoisbhwc.org)
Who is coming, what are their credentials?
Dr. Kari M. Wolf joined SIU School of Medicine in 2016 to serve as Chair of Psychiatry. Previously, she served as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as Chief Medical Officer for Seton Shoal Creek Hospital. Wolf also served as the chair of the Austin campus for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas-Southwestern. Since coming to SIU, she has served as a content expert for numerous pieces of legislation, created innovative psychiatric services to expand access in the region, served for three years as the Psychiatric Director for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' Behavioral Health Division, and participated in numerous national and regional talks on medical education, leadership, mental health policy, telehealth, and behavioral health workforce development. More on Dr. Wolf: Kari M. Wolf | SIU School of Medicine (siumed.edu)
Dr. Jeffrey I. Bennett joined the faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU SOM) as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Department of Psychiatry Residency Program in 2003. In 2014, he became the Donnelly Family Endowed Professor in Developmental Disabilities and subsequently an SIU SOM Academy Scholar in 2015. Dr. Bennett completed medical school at New York University School of Medicine (1986) followed by a one-year Research Fellowship in Neurology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore (1987). He earned his bachelor's degree at Harvard University (1978) followed by a year as a Research Associate in the Neurobiology Division at the University of California, San Francisco. More on Dr. Bennett: https://www.siumed.org/jeffrey-bennett
RESIDENT TRANSITIONS
What are we going to do when families refuse to move?
Transition planning will put resident choice, well-being, and dignity at the center of every step in the process. Resident transitions will be slow, thoughtful, and caring. They will occur gradually, over a period of three years, giving everyone involved ample time to have sensitive, supportive, objective, and non-coercive conversations about future living options - especially for those who express concern, fear, or reluctance. If there are individuals (with guardians and families) who refuse all alternative SODC, CILA, or other potentially appropriate living options over three years, a "utilization review" process can be used to support everyone involved.
Will Choate employees be involved in the transformation and resident move process?
Yes, Choate's employees will be needed to make resident transitions and the broader transformation effort successful. Staff will be contacted as part of the assessment process and on an ongoing basis as needed to ensure resident needs are met and each move is as smooth, seamless, and positive as possible.
Who will manage resident transfers? Will staff have input?
Melissa Reynolds is the lead Division of Developmental Disabilities' Family/Resident Liaison. Her team includes Choate Employees Amanda Cade and Tahl Meyers with others soon to be announced. The input of Choate staff will be critical to the success of this work.
OIG
What will be done to improve OIG processes and timelines going forward?
IDHS is committed to continuing to work fully and appropriately with the OIG to help to ensure that they are efficient in their response to allegations filed at Choate. To increase OIG bandwidth, IDHS has secured an increase in OIG investigation staff headcount to better manage workload, which we hope will positively impact the speed and quality of investigations.
As OIG is an independent investigative body, IDHS has requested that the OIG issue more information to staff about measures that they have enacted to improve the efficiency and fairness of their process. More information on OIG improvements will be shared with you in an upcoming communication.
CHOATE OPERATIONS
What are we doing about the delays in hiring that impact Choate?
IDHS continues to host in-person and virtual recruitment events and has partnered with various community organizations to promote our needs, including colleges, universities, high schools, Minority Student Groups and Career Services, Veteran Support groups, IDES offices, churches, libraries, Disability Advocacy Organizations, Workforce Centers, and IDHS' Employment and Training offices. IDHS has established a social media presence to ensure available positions are highlighted on various social media and web platforms, including multiple job boards. Coming soon, Choate is participating in a job fair at Shawnee Community College on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 to be held from 8:30am-12:00pm.
An upcoming onsite job fair is planned - and will be held in the Choate gymnasium. Details will be shared ASAP.
Despite all of these efforts, we know hiring remains too slow and impacts overtime and workload at Choate. We continue to press at all levels of the hiring process to improve speed and efficiency.
Can you share any more details about plans for each part of the resident and patient population?
| Unit |
Resident and Patient Population |
# of Residents and/or Patients |
Tentative Plan |
| Cedar Lower |
General DD |
32 |
Slowly transition residents over 30-36 months. Continue current environmental improvements. Renovate and repurpose as space becomes available. |
| Cedar Upper |
General DD |
19 |
Slowly transition residents over 30-36 months. Continue current environmental improvements. Renovate and repurpose as space becomes available. |
| Cypress Upper |
General DD |
36 |
Slowly transition residents over 30-36 months. Continue current environmental improvements. Renovate and repurpose as space becomes available. |
| Cypress Lower |
General DD |
36 |
Slowly transition residents over 30-36 months. Continue current environmental improvements. Renovate and repurpose as space becomes available. Sycamore Upper Step Down DD Forensic 35 SIU to evaluate potential for transition. Continue current environmental improvements. Could remain on campus. |
| Sycamore Upper |
Step Down DD Forensic |
35 |
SIU to evaluate potential for transition. Continue current environmental improvements. Could remain on campus. |
| Sycamore Lower |
DD Forensic |
42 |
DDD, DMH, and SIU to determine if the forensic needs of this group can and should remain onsite, in coordination with an expansion of mental health forensic services. Continue current environmental improvements. |
| Redbud/Dogwood |
Dual Diagnosis - DD + SMI |
35 |
SIU to evaluate potential for transition. Could remain on campus. Continue current environmental improvements. |
| Mental Health Center |
SMI (Civil) |
49 |
Retain; DMH and SIU to determine how to strengthen and expand civil units and potentially integrate future forensic units. Continue current environmental improvements. |
The Division of Developmental Disabilities will be setting up an email to capture any additional thoughts, questions, or concerns you may have. You may email DHS.DDD.Transformation@illinois.gov. Based on the questions we receive, we will continue to update this FAQ to keep everyone apprised of the latest information.
