Illinois Delayed Choate Facility Bed Closures
The state postponed the shuttering of 75 mental health beds at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center until 2027.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Illinois Department of Human Services has pushed back the closure of 75 mental health beds at the Choate facility in Anna until June 2027. This decision follows mounting political pressure and legal challenges regarding the future of the Southern Illinois site.
Why it matters
Proponents of the facility argue that keeping the center open is essential for providing accessible local care to residents. Governor JB Pritzker has previously cited persistent, unresolved challenges at the center as the primary justification for pursuing the closure.
The state is delaying the closure of 75 mental health beds until June 2027, shifting the original March 2027 timeline. Meanwhile, the facility's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities unit remains on track for a September 2026 closure.
The players
Darren Bailey
He is a former Illinois state representative and vocal critic of the administration who has led opposition to the closure.
JB Pritzker
He is the current Governor of the United States state of Illinois who has authorized the plan to close the facility.
Tyler Tripp
He is the Union County State's Attorney who filed a lawsuit challenging the procedural legality of the facility's closure plan.
Illinois Department of Human Services
This is the state agency responsible for overseeing the operation and planned decommissioning of public health facilities.
AFSCME
This is the labor union representing state employees that has initiated legal action against the facility closure.
The details
Lawsuits filed by AFSCME and Union County State's Attorney Tyler Tripp allege the state bypassed the Health Facilities and Services Review Board when planning the facility's shutdown. While the state works to transition employees to other agencies, Darren Bailey and other regional lawmakers continue to demand that the center remain fully operational.
Timeline
The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities unit is set to close in September 2026.
Mental health beds were originally scheduled for closure in March 2027.
The new closure date for 75 mental health beds is June 2027.
Market Landscape
The conflict reflects a broader struggle between state government consolidation efforts and the preservation of regional public health infrastructure. This legal battle follows a pattern of intense state-level oversight requirements established under the Health Facilities and Services Review Board.
Residents of Southern Illinois may see a temporary continuation of local care services due to the delayed closure of these beds. Employees affected by the eventual decommissioning process are being managed through state-led transitions to other departments or facilities.
The takeaway
The delay provides a critical window for ongoing legal and political negotiations regarding the future of psychiatric care in rural Illinois. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming court filings to determine if the state will be required to change its long-term strategy for the Choate facility.
Further reading
Learn more about the local labor market and facility staffing by visiting the Illinois Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSIU.
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