Arc Alert on Public Hearing on Murray Closure
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will hold a public hearing on October 9th in
Centralia, Illinois, regarding the closure of the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center. This is the
same body that reviewed the proposed Jacksonville Developmental Center closure last year and voted
in favor of closure. Their focus is on the availability of health facilities and services in the area of the
institution facing closure and they need us to continue to remind them that people with developmental
and intellectual disabilities can live successful, healthy lives in the community. Many community agencies
stand ready to provide homes and services to people currently living at the Murray Center. Closing
another large institution is not a loss for the people it supports, but is a huge gain for them. As part of
the Governor’s Rebalancing initiative, closing Murray means that those who live there will now have a
chance to experience increased independence and person-centered planning and exert their right to a
full life in the community like everyone else.


The opposition will be there!

Please attend the hearing to speak up and show that you are in favor of closing the Warren G.
Murray Developmental Center or send comments supporting the closure to Mike Constantino,
Supervisor of the Project Review Section of the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

The Public Hearing will be held on October 9, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. in the Centralia City Hall,
222 South Poplar, Centralia, IL 62801. 

Sign-in for the hearing will be conducted from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. At that time there will
be forms available if you plan to comment at the hearing. It’s advisable to show up early.

Written comments may be sent to Mike Constantino at the address below. The deadline for submission of written comments is November 27, 2013. The HFSR Board is tentatively
scheduled to review the closure and vote at its December 17, 2013 Board Meeting.

Comments to:   Mike Constantino, Supervisor, Project Review Section
                        Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board
                        525 West Jefferson Street (2nd Floor)
                        Springfield, IL 62761

This information and a great deal more is available at the IHFSRB website: www.hfsrb.illinois.gov .
They also provide a direct link for comments and questions. Please be advised this website us down
more than it is up!
.


Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org