The Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Colbert and Williams Consent Decree teams at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) recently exceeded their FY25 goals to help transition people who have been inappropriately placed in nursing homes and specialized mental health rehabilitation facilities (SMHRF) into living independently in the community.
LSSI is one of 15 providers assigned by the state to help facilitate such transitions. The LSSI clients are among 24,000 class members in two landmark Illinois cases, representing adults who may be able to live in the community with the right supports and services through providers such as LSSI.
Comprised of 26 members, the Colbert and Williams teams assess individuals for eligibility through a care plan meeting with LSSI staff, nursing home or SMHRF staff, and class members. “This allows the teams to ensure all the community supports are set before moving forward,” said Marisella Morris, Senior Director, Mental Health Services. “Team members assist with the entire move, which includes viewing and securing apartments, making sure the apartment is move-in ready by purchasing household items and furniture, and connecting utilities, as well as providing financial assistance with security deposits and move-in costs.”
Once clients have settled in, Decree Care Managers follow them for 18 months with monthly home visits. Community Support Team members provide ongoing support to ensure clients are happy and healthy in their new home, offering supports such as healthcare and mental health referrals, medication management, financial assistance, and other services to connect them to the community and positively impact their overall well-being.
For FY25, the teams successfully housed 26 clients (goal: 25) in independent living settings who had previously lived in nursing homes, and 44 people (goal: 42) who had lived in SMHRF.
This year, just three of the seven organizations assigned by the state to provide transitions from nursing homes to independent living met their goal, and only three out of the eight agencies that provide transitions from SMHRF met theirs.
“Not only did the Colbert and Williams teams meet their transition targets, they did so while providing high-quality, whole-person care to each class member assigned to LSSI,” said Courtney George, Associate Executive Director, Behavioral Health. “I could not be prouder of their hard work, persistence, and dedication.”
