Closure of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center Delayed by IDHS

Union County, Ill. - Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Tripp announced that the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has postponed its plan to close psychiatric hospital beds at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center. The removal of services, originally scheduled for March 2027, is now set for June 2027, according to a notice issued on September 22.

This decision follows Tripp's civil action filed on September 8, aimed at blocking IDHS from proceeding with the closure of most mental health beds and services in March. Tripp's complaint argues that the closure would breach the Illinois State Facilities Closure Act and the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Access Act.