While The Arc was at the Joint Senate & House Committee on abuse and neglect in the community another drama was playing out in court.
Story from the Chicago Tribune below.
Tony
Judge demands group home business hand over residents,
cites risk of ‘injury’
By Patricia Callahan
Citing the possibility of “irreparable injury,” a Cook County judge Tuesday gave a troubled group home business four hours to turn over 18 adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities so they could be moved to safer homes.
The decision seemed to end a standoff between Disability Services of Illinois and the state’s Department of Human Services, which had revoked the license of the group home network last month and sought to transfer its residents to new facilities. Disability Services, however, was obstructing caseworkers from doing their jobs, according to the state.
But Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Pantle’s 4 p.m. deadline came and went Tuesday without any action. Then at 5 p.m., Disability Services dropped off five residents but not the others, a Human Services spokeswoman said.
Tuesday night, Disability Services CEO Reuben Goodwin Sr. told the Tribune that the “guardians or family members” of the 13 others picked them up. “I don’t know what they’re going to do,” he said.
Illinois State Police were helping caseworkers locate the 13 individuals Tuesday night, the Human Services spokeswoman said.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Pantle said she was especially troubled by affidavits from caseworkers and a state doctor who examined residents after they were moved from Disability Services. They alleged that some Disability Services residents hadn’t been getting their medicines and one was malnourished.
In addition, the affidavits alleged that some residents who remained in the homes had no blankets or comforters despite the plunging temperatures.
Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
708-828-0188 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org