Mental Health Center Advocates' Final Plea: Keep the Tinley Park Facility's Doors Open

As of Tuesday morning, Nancy Jones' 42-year-old mentally ill son was out on the street. And there's really nothing she could do about it.

"We're just in agony right now because we love him and we want to help him and there's no help," said the Shorewood resident Tuesday. "Nobody cares in this state. It's just heartbreaking for us."

Jones was among several hundred people gathered in Orland Park Tuesday at a hearing on Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to close the Mental Health Center.

Many in attendence at the hall wore bright orange "Save the " T-shirts.

About 50 people from advocacy groups, state agencies, the health center itself and those who have loved ones suffering from mental illnesses testified at the more than four-hour hearing, which was before the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

Speakers were allowed two minutes each to state their case in what was the last hearing on the matter to be held in Illinois, state Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, said at the event.

McCarthy is among a dozen General Assembly members who serve on the bipartisan commission which has already voted to keep open four other Illinois mental health centers that were on the chopping block. Quinn's proposal includes seven in all.

The commission returns to Springfield next week for the legislative veto session, when it's scheduled to vote on the other three.

State Rep. Al Riley, D-Hazel Crest, also sits on the commission. He said the group owes it to the Southland to vote against closing the local health center, just as it did for four of the others.

"Essentially … this facility must stay open for myriad reasons," he said Tuesday, adding that he speaks before representatives of major area hospitals at mental health care forums. "One of the things all the health care professionals tell us … was that the impact of closing the Tinley Park Mental Health Center would be deleterious to them. They just could not pick up the slack. That's what they said. Not us."

He also said that many residents in Chicago's south suburbs feel they've been put upon to bear the burden of the state's budget woes.

Will County Assistant State's Attorney Michael Woods echoed many speakers' sentiments when he said that the Illinois' mental health resources need not be cut, but supplemented.

"I have been involved with parents who are battered by their mentally ill son or daughter trying to convince them to seek treatment only to see them incarcerated rather than hospitalized," he said. "I've also witnessed those same parents decide not to bail them out because inpatient care is not available."

The center served about 1,900 people in its 75 beds during fiscal year 2011, officials said. But when they stopped by on Tuesday, there were 38 people there. That may be because budget cuts for the facility have forced staffing reductions and therefore led to the treatment of fewer patients.

Lorrie Rickman Jones, director of mental health for the Department of Human Services, said that five community facilities have offered to care for patients who will be displaced if the Tinley center shutters its doors. But when state Sen. M. Maggie Crotty, D-Oak Forest, asked her to name them, she wasn't able to.

"Since these were informal discussions, I'll let the hospitals share that with you," Jones said. " … We don't have a commitment in writing. … We're prepared to take that next step."

Ingalls Health System Vice President Joseph Moser and South Suburban Hospital President Michael Englehart both said their hospitals don't have the physical capacity to take on additional patients. In fact, they've relied on the Tinley Park center to treat the mentally ill.

"What are we to do?" Moser said. "The state is not coming up with any solutions. They're just saying, 'You guys figure it out on your own.'"

Quinn's Bright Idea

The governor first introduced his plan to close the seven state facilities, including the Tinley Park Mental Health Center, last month.

The move would help shrink a $313 million budget deficit by saving about $54.8 million, Quinn said during a news conference on Sept. 8. He noted that it's time for legislators to "rendezvous with reality.” The closure would also lay off more than 1,900 state workers.

This isn't the first time the facility has been at the center of cost-saving measures. It's adjoining Howe Developmental Center was shuttered in July 2009, when the mental health center was downsized to 150 beds. That capacity has since been cut in half.

Check back in with Patch throughout the week for more coverage of Quinn's proposal to close the center. If you'd like us to let you know when we publish more info about it, click the green "keep me posted" button immediately below this story.