Illinois Plans to Cut 250 Jobs at Choate Mental Health Center Amid Union and Local Opposition
NewsData.io · United States · Aug 5, 2026
The Illinois Department of Human Services has announced plans to lay off approximately 250 of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center's 524 employees and eliminate its general developmental disabilities residential program by March 2027. AFSCME and local officials rallied Tuesday in Anna, Illinois, arguing the cuts will worsen an already strained mental health system in southern Illinois. The layoffs follow relocation of residents after reporting on patient mistreatment, though local prosecutors and lawmakers contend demand for mental health beds remains unmet statewide. For staffing agencies, the displacement of 250 healthcare and mental health workers in a rural region signals a potential surge in available specialized talent and client demand from community-based providers.
Related stories
The Trump administration has settled a union lawsuit and agreed to abandon guidance that allowed mass layoffs of federal workers during government…
The Illinois Department of Human Services is eliminating approximately 524 positions — half the staff — at the Choate Mental Health and Development…
Netflix confirmed it is laying off approximately 1,000 employees, representing about 6% of its roughly 16,000-person workforce…
Kroger plans to eliminate more than a third of its roughly 8,200-person corporate workforce over the next three years, with new CEO Greg Foran citing…