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A Community Integrated Living Arrangement is a group home where
eight or fewer unrelated adults with developmental disabilities live
under the supervision of the community developmental services
agency.
State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, shared examples of problems
at some of these facilities.
"You have heard from the first responders about the incidents of
rape, sexual abuse, the neglect of residents, and even starvations
that we can document in the state of Illinois that have taken place
in CILAs," Meier said.
Last week, there was a sexual assault at one of the facilities,
which Meier said could have been prevented.
"That rape, that sexual assault, the incident that happened last
week, none of that would have happened if somebody in [the Illinois
Department of Human Services] would have listened to us," Meier
said.
Meier introduced several measures which he hopes to pass in the
coming weeks. One would implement mandatory inspections to be made
by DHS.
"House Bill 1298 requires the Department of Human Services to
establish a system of sight inspections. Once again, I want to say
unannounced," Meier said. "Right now, once every three years CILAs
are inspected."
Meier also hopes to install cameras and security equipment in these
facilities to deter misconduct.
"The second bill is [House Bill 2998], which will require authorized
video surveillance in common areas," Meier said. "Before the video
surveillance equipment is installed or operated in the common areas
of a state-operated development center, DHS must obtain unanimous
consent from the resident or their guardian."
The third measure proposed by Meier would require the facilities to
notify the state of any violations within five days.
Meier said he has been focused on these issues for years.
"If you look back and read anything I have put out over the last
eleven years, you will see that I have fought for eleven years for
this," Meier said. "Often people will not listen. I have fought with
DHS, I have fought with Republican governors, Democrat governors. I
am not just starting this today."
Illinois has more than 50 CILA homes across the state and has also
seen numerous issues within its mental health facilities.
Andrew Hensel reports on issues in Chicago and
Statewide. He has been with The Center Square News since April
of 2021 and was previously with The Joliet Slammers. |
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