The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 filed a lawsuit challenging the state of Illinois’ planned downsizing of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Ill., NPR Illinois reported Sept. 17.
Choate had 75 mental health beds and 150 beds for people with developmental disabilities as of Aug. 1. The state’s downsizing plan would eliminate all of the psychiatric beds, leave only 40 beds for patients with developmental disabilities, and cut roughly half of Choate’s approximately 500-person workforce — most of whom are AFSCME members.
The lawsuit, filed in Union County Circuit Court, claims the state violated three laws: the Health Facilities Planning Act, the Illinois State Facilities Closure Act and the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Access Act. It asks a judge to order the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to keep Choate’s 75 inpatient psychiatric beds in place until the agency establishes 75 comparable beds at other state-run facilities, and to block layoffs tied to the psychiatric unit’s closure in the meantime.
“IDHS does not comment on pending litigation,” the agency said in a statement provided to Becker’s in response to the lawsuit. IDHS said operations at Choate will be reduced following a review of state-operated facilities, declining census, increasing interest in community living arrangements and changing service delivery needs.
The agency said the census across Illinois’ seven state-operated developmental centers declined from 1,639 in March 2023 to 1,413 as of July 17, 2026. Choate’s general census of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities declined from 199 in March 2023 to 15.
IDHS said 75 Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery beds at Choate will be phased down as capacity at Madden Mental Health Center and other facilities increases. The 40-bed forensic program will continue operating at Choate. The agency also said it will work with labor partners to offer employment opportunities to affected employees, including at other state-operated facilities.
Becker’s reached out to AFSCME Council 31 for comment and will update this story if a response is received.
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