The Department of Human Services said Monday it plans to expand the number of beds for mental health services at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna.
The expansion will bring an additional 25 beds to the center in the coming months, raising the total number to 75 beds.
The expansion is part of a three-year initiative launched in 2023 to reform the troubled center that serves residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
DHS’ Division of Mental Health and Division of Developmental Disabilities are working with Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine to develop and implement plans they say will better serve the vulnerable population.
“As the state continues to support the needs of residents at Choate Mental Health and Development Center, we are placing safety, respect and community at the forefront,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. “This new expansion, part of our ongoing transformation plan, ensures individualized care options for patients with serious mental health needs.”