Confidentiality of CILA Addresses

The information provided in this Bulletin is to inform DD CILA providers of confidentiality issues concerning publication of CILA addresses.The information below and the attached Determination (pdf) will give definitions, acts and rules that govern the decision made by the Public Access Bureau of the State of Illinois, Office of Attorney General and Department of Human Services.

Process and Procedure

The State of Illinois, Office of Attorney General, and the Department of Human Services have determined that the public disclosure (printing, posting to web sites, etc.) of CILA locations is a violation of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.

By definition, CILAs are homes for recipients of mental health or developmental disabilities services.  Disclosure of addresses of CILAs could enable residents to be identified, i.e., through names on mailboxes, government records such as police, fire or rescue reports and various resources for locating people that have become increasingly available via the internet.

In addition, disclosing addresses of CILAs publically would enable residents to be observed physically entering and exiting CILAs, thus leading to identification of recipients of mental health or developmental disabilities services.

For a more detailed information, please see the Determination (pdf) of this decision as set by the State of Illinois, Office of Attorney General and the Department of Human Services.

Providers must not release this type of information.  Any provider that currently is posting or printing pictures or site addresses of their CILA settings should remove that information immediately.