Quinn Defends Plan To De-Institutionalize Mentally Ill, Disabled

January 25, 2012 10:01 AM

Gov. Pat Quinn (Credit: CBS)

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) — Gov. Pat Quinn is defending his administration’s plan to move people out of state institutions for the mentally and physically disabled and into community care settings.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports, mental health care advocates and parents of those in state-run facilities have blasted the governor’s plan, which aims to transition all residents into less expensive community settings within three years.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports

But Quinn says the decision shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

“I think it’s important that we put the person first,” he said. “The money of the state is going to follow the person. This is a policy I’ve enunciated before. We’re going to implement it in a very positive, humane way.”

The Tinley Park mental health center, and a center for people with developmental disabilities in downstate Jacksonville, will be the first to close.

Quinn’s office predicted closing facilities in Jacksonville and Tinley Park, which together employ about 550 people, would save nearly $20 million.

In total, Quinn hopes to move 600 people out of institutions in the coming 2 1/2 years.

Last week, worker and a former patient at Tinley Park tell CBS 2’s Kristyn Hartman that closing that facility in particular is a terrible mistake.

“To me, it’s difficult because we want to have a place to work, but the people, too, they matter,” employee Chanel Jennings said.

She was talking about psychiatric patients who need acute, short term care, which Lisa Guardiola needed when she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

“My road to recovery started at Tinley Park Mental Health Hospital,” she said. “If I didn’t go there I’d probably be out on the street.”

Quinn’s administration says community based care settings allow individualized attention based on the person’s needs. Critics say the closing facilities are the best option for some residents, who aren’t ready for community living.

Quinn Defends Plan To De Institutionalize Mentally Ill, Disabled

Stella

I have a better idea – why don’t we put Quinn “OUT”, Out of office, out of the state!!!!!

Afro

Agreed

I can’t say how I really feel about this dog!

Afro

What about this?

SPRINGFIELD — House Democrats on Sunday offered a scaled-back, $250 million-a-year, tax-break package designed to keep Chicago’s two financial exchanges and Sears Holdings Corp. from moving out of Illinois.

Now we can’t afford 20m for special care because we have to support Chicagos new welfare plan. All the while you say you agree with what Quinn is doing come on guys. It’s mismanaged all the way around and Quinn robs from thecitizens and gives to the corporations.

Nerzhoul

hey afro-speziac, you can always stock your wardrobe well at sears. The same place will service your car by Mrs. Good Wench.

Afro

nerzhoul

Truth hurts doesn’t it Nerz? Thats okay go back and read the article now.

ra

Can’t u just go somewhere and die??

Steve

We got rid of one crook and liar…. Then Chicago votes in another!!!! We need to get rid of this “Moron” and all those other Chicago tyrannts!!!!!

Taxpayer

It seems to me that it doesn’t matter who gets voted into office, you people will complain about anyone! It’s not possible to vote someone in that you would actually approve of. It’s a totally lost cause.

Afro

Dear Taxpayer if you have a coment about the article or the person in the article thats fine express yourself as you wish but don’t start your pesonal attacks on bloggers such as me, just because you the truth hurts your feelings
Taxpayer

@Afro, I haven’t attacked anyone or been abusive in any way. I simply made the observation that there will probably never be anyone elected to office that you all would consider to be acceptable. That’s all. Am I making an innaccurate observation?
tom Sharp

Hey Taxpayer: at least 95% of the politicians in this state are crooks, losers and just plain stupid. Ergo, at best, you’re 5% right!! So jsut keep paying the highest taxes in the financially most broke and mismanaged state in the country.
Afro

@Taxpayer here is what you said attacking us for our comments.

“you people will complain about anyone!”

So how am I supposed to take this? I wouldn’t think that the punctuation you used is because you are excited for us now is it? So how are we supposed to take your interjection? Should we shrink back from you belligerency because we see a Governor who is Giving Corporations tax breaks, and raising our taxes and closing mentally challenged persons facilities, just so we can pay our bills? I’m sorry but Pat Quinn is a fuk up and needs to be ousted. I WILL NOT SHIRNK BACK FROM YOUR TONE!!!!!!

tom Sharp

Obviously he did this to keep from being institutionalized himself. Quinn is just a half step ahead of the guys with the white coats–TERM LIMITS OF ONE!!!

ra

u really need to get a life such a d umb a ss

Pamela Toll

I was tottally victimized by the State oF IL like the dark ages. There is no question that my 6month stay inside cook county jail as a prisioner was for some BS mental health evalution by the Crooked Dept of Human Services., My charge was minor, I was already under Drs care, on medication and was NOT GUILTY OF THE CHARGES which were a misdeamnor. I spent 6 months of my life incarcerated by the discrimination of the police depts that dont take reports from persons labled ill or disabled, as if ill people cant be a crime victim. BOY WAS I. I would love to hire a lawyer and sue the State of IL , the PARK FOREST POLICE AND THE US BANKS For having a phony bank teller a non employee sign an arrest warrant f 3 months AFTER THE INCIDENT and the Bank tried to pass off TWO OTHER PHONY people as the teller. I had to fight to get myself heard and was overmedicated, unfed, dyhydrated , subject to violence and mental abuse for a ticket that amounts to a bad speeding ticket. I have no criminal HISTORY.. Decriminalize mental illness so they can keep you in jail as a prisoner cause theyre closing down all the community mental health centers and in patient faciliities. My case is expunged and could be which shows it wasnt a big deal. .the Loss of the quality of my life and being victimized by the STATE OF IL was EVERYTHING..
Pamela Toll

I was totally victimized by the State oF IL like the dark ages. There is no question that my 6month stay inside cook county jail as a prisioner was for some BS mental health evalution by the Crooked Dept of Human Services., My charge was minor, I was already under Drs care, on medication and was NOT GUILTY OF THE CHARGES which were a misdeamnor. I spent 6 months of my life incarcerated by the discrimination of the police depts that dont take reports from persons labled ill or disabled, as if ill people cant be a crime victim. BOY WAS I. I would love to hire a lawyer and sue the State of IL , the PARK FOREST POLICE AND THE US BANKS For having a phony bank teller a non employee sign an arrest warrant f 3 months AFTER THE INCIDENT and the Bank tried to pass off TWO OTHER PHONY people as the teller. I had to fight to get myself heard and was overmedicated, unfed, dyhydrated , subject to violence and mental abuse for a ticket that amounts to a bad speeding ticket. I have no criminal HISTORY.. Decriminalize mental illness so they can keep you in jail as a prisoner cause theyre closing down all the community mental health centers and in patient faciliities. My case is expunged and could be which shows it wasnt a big deal. .the Loss of the quality of my life and being victimized by the STATE OF IL was EVERYTHING..
Pami Toll

I was totally victimized by the State oF IL like the dark ages. There is no question that my 6month stay inside cook county jail as a prisioner was for some BS mental health evalution by the Crooked Dept of Human Services., My charge was minor, I was already under Drs care, on medication and was NOT GUILTY OF THE CHARGES which were a misdeamnor. I spent 6 months of my life incarcerated by the discrimination of the police depts that dont take reports from persons labled ill or disabled, as if ill people cant be a crime victim. BOY WAS I. I would love to hire a lawyer and sue the State of IL , the PARK FOREST POLICE AND THE US BANKS For having a phony bank teller a non employee sign an arrest warrant f 3 months AFTER THE INCIDENT and the Bank tried to pass off TWO OTHER PHONY people as the teller. I had to fight to get myself heard and was overmedicated, unfed, dyhydrated , subject to violence and mental abuse for a ticket that amounts to a bad speeding ticket. I have no criminal HISTORY.. Decriminalize mental illness so they can keep you in jail as a prisoner cause theyre closing down all the community mental health centers and in patient faciliities. My case is expunged and could be which shows it wasnt a big deal. .the Loss of the quality of my life and being victimized by the STATE OF IL was EVERYTHING..
Pam Toll

Im stating that the state needs to do way more than decriminalize mental health laws. IL is still one of the last 14 states in the country that LOCK UP mentally ill patients and you still cannot get the proper evaluation and psych care that you can OUTSIDE the COOK COUNTY JAIL.. its a travesty that such a system exists and that people must be subjected to the public scrutiny of being denied their rights and freedom because of some small minded cops and an over inflated court system that cant even handle what it has to deal with now.
http://overnightsatellite.com/quinn-defends-mental-health-facility-closures-amid-public-criticism/ Quinn Defends Mental Health Facility Closures Amid Public Criticism | Overnight Satellite

[...] promises that state funding diverted from institutionalized care will “follow the person,” according to CBS Chicago, suggesting that the 600 patients that stand to be displaced in the next 2 [...]
Judge Roy Bean

quinn rode in the little school bus , he is a moron,and nothing better to see this egg head in the pokie with blago and ryan….he will not do nothing till boss madigan ok’s it…this clown wonders why people fleeing this gestapo state as they toss money to every corrupt lackie they hire….they need to be held accountable, sueing them and a jail term would be nice…
RECALL quinn………..2012