Published on August 18, 2011

Governor Quinn Approves Task Force Led By Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health

(Arlington Heights, IL) -- On August 18, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn traveled to the Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health in Arlington Heights to sign legislation that creates a task force to develop recommendations for improving the state’s mental health services. Scott Burgess, Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health Executive Director, worked with Representative Fred Crespo to draft a bill that addresses the challenge of caring for Illinois residents coping with mental illness. Quinn’s approval empowers the strategic planning task force to produce a five-year plan that includes providing sufficient home and community-based assistance, supporting non-institutional/least restrictive care when possible, improving access, reducing regulatory redundancy and promoting evidence-based services.

According to Burgess, 2.6 million Illinois residents are affected by mental illness, and while there were 55,000 mentally ill residents in state hospitals in the 1960’s, only 1,400 inpatient beds remain. Illinois has the greatest number of mentally ill residents in nursing homes, has a very high percentage incarcerated in jails and one of the highest suicide rates in the country, especially for children.

One of the task force’s main objectives is to promote community-based services rather than institutionalized care. Approximately 16,000 mentally ill adults are “warehoused” in Illinois nursing homes, yet Burgess notes that 60% could live successfully in permanent housing in the community. By transitioning just 25% of these individuals, the state could save more than $574 million in the first five years while providing more clinically appropriate, recovery-based care. Cook County Jail dispenses psychiatric medications to 1,200 people on a daily basis, most of whom are imprisoned for non-violent crimes related to their illness; the savings for moving these individuals to community housing can alone save Illinois $69 million over five years.

The task force, led by Burgess and Representative Crespo, will include consumers of mental health services and family members, community providers, child mental health professionals, legislators and state department officials. Together they will be charged with construction and implementation of a comprehensive plan and submitting periodic updates to the Governor’s office and the legislative body once the plan is in place.

“I’ve been heartened to see the level of compassion those in the legislature hold for some of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens, those with serious mental illness,” said Burgess. “I am confident our state’s improved system, propelled by a thoughtful strategy and adequate resources, will help us meet our collective goals: cost-effective, community-based and integrated services which will lead to recovery as an expectation rather than an exception.”