State’s Attorney: IDHS delays Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center closure plans

UNION COUNTY, Ill. (Heartland News) - Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Tripp shared the Illinois Department of Human Services’ update on their plan to close psychiatric hospital beds at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center.

Tripp said IDHS extended the planned removal date of services from March 2027 to June 2027. IDHS gave the notice on September 22.

This came after Tripp filed a civil action on September 8 to prevent IDHS from removing the majority of mental health beds and services in March.

According to Tripp, the complaint raised issues, saying that this closure violates the Illinois State Facilities Closure Act and the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Access Act.