Safety Enhancements

Advanced Safety Leadership

Ryan Thomas was appointed IDHS' first-ever Chief Resident Safety Officer on March 6. Ms. Thomas brings over 16 years of regulatory compliance, resident and patient safety, and change management experience to her role. Ms. Thomas is charged with implementing safety improvements at all seven SODCs. We will also be adding an onsite resident safety officer in the coming weeks.

Increased Security and Surveillance

Cameras in approved indoor and outdoor areas that do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy (ongoing). Thirty-nine outdoor security cameras have been installed and activated at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center and dozens more are being added in common indoor areas, where there is a low or no reasonable expectation of personal privacy (as opposed to resident bedrooms, restrooms, etc.). IDHS is carrying out additional security camera installation in all seven SODCs.

  • Increased security staff by 5 positions including one security officer chief.
  • Increased onsite investigatory staff by 2 positions.
  • Increased management presence in living areas and professional staff presence after hours.

Independent, Third-Party Review

  • Equip for Equality investigation staff conducting chart reviews, staff interviews, and monitoring of unit conditions. Visit dates include July 29, 2022, August 9, 2022, and October 20-21, 2022; EFE went to Choate December (7 and 8) and January (26 and 27).
  • Collaborated with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) as they conduct their internal investigations and reports.
  • Invited the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine to partner on the review of programs and services offered at CMHDC and make recommendations to address safety concerns, repurpose the CMHDC campus, improve access to services in the community and region for people with developmental disabilities and those with mental illness.

Safety Engagement

  • On June 26, a Safety Summit was hosted in Carbondale where CMHDC staff and leadership, IDHS staff, representatives from SIU School of Medicine, parents and guardians, advocacy groups, and local legislators developed safety action plans for the following safety topics: leadership and mid-management involvement and support for resident safety, communication about errors, handoffs and information exchange, reporting and responding to resident safety events, communication openness, and continuous improvement.
  • A staff townhall was held on July 7, 2023, to review the results from the culture of safety survey and the action plans developed to enhance the resident safety program. The implementation teams received related training throughout the month and are leading kickoff meetings in August.
  • In response to recent recommendations from the IDHS OIG, additional phones and locked bulletin boards were installed onsite to ensure employees and residents have access to safety information and the means to easily report abuse and neglect.

Training and Consultation

  • New and re-training sessions for all staff
  • Illinois Crisis Prevention Network has provided ongoing consultation to develop individualized behavior plans for residents in need of enhanced support.

Visible, Physical Improvements to Choate living areas and homes.

  • Completed a pilot environmental improvement project in 2 homes - Redbud and Dogwood - which are rolling out Center-wide.

Senior Onsite Visitor/Leadership Reporting Liaison:

  • Brought retired CMS Assistant Director to report to DD Director to perform an on-site, on-the-ground, common-sense, immediate-term review of the Center.
  • Met extensively with residents, families/guardians and staff, focusing on the health and safety of these individuals.

Illinois State Police (ISP) Collaboration

  • ISP's Division of Internal Investigation came on-site to conduct an assessment of the Center including a review of security, physical structure needs, etc.
  • Supported updates to staff training with a focus on team building and collective accountability.

NASDDDS Technical Assistance:

  • Used ICDD funding to receive technical assistance from the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) on building additional I/DD community capacity.
  • Technical assistance grew from FY22 capacity report - An Evaluation of Community Capacity Barriers and Opportunities for Expansion in Illinois for Adult DD Waiver Services - focusing on support for residents and capacity for SODC system improvements.