Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Egyptian Regional Human Rights Authority Met Jan. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the authority:
The regular meeting of the Human Rights Authority (HRA) was held via WebEx and in person at Union County Counseling, 204 South St., Anna, IL. The meeting was called to order at 5:14 p.m. Chairperson, Kathy Rambeau, read the confidentiality statement. A quorum was present.
Members Present: Kathy Rambeau, Linda LaFoon, Paul Jones, and Ryan McAllister (in person). Rebecca Lewey and Beverly Warshawsky (participated via WebEx.)
Members Absent: Mary McMahan and Victor Metzger
Staff Present: Kim Conway
Guests: Gayla Holbrook, SRA CILA and Jessy Wright, HRA Board Applicant
Minutes: Ryan McAllister made a motion to approve the November 19, 2020 meeting minutes Linda LaFoon seconded and it carried. Linda LaFoon made a motion to keep the executive minutes from July, September, and November 2020 confidential. Paul Jones seconded, and it carried.
Communications: Kim Conway informed the board that mileage reimbursement beginning in January 2021 was reduced to 56 cents per mile. Kim Conway provided an update on the number of positive cases at the state operated facilities in the Egyptian Region.
Ratifications: None New Complaints:
Due to the meeting having a mixture of in person participants and WebEx participants, all board members voted individually in agreement with each of the below motions.
21-110-9007 Social Service Agency – alleges inadequate care due to an agency not scheduling an appointment with a physician for a gender change. Since it was not known what services the agency was supposed to provide to the individual, the board tabled case opening at the November meeting to gather more information. Kim reported that she spoke with the case manager who advised what services the agency provides to the recipient and also sent documentation of appointments with gender change physicians that the agency had scheduled and accompanied the recipient to. After the board reviewed the information provided, Paul Jones made a motion to not accept the complaint for further investigation due to an informal resolution of the complaints, Ryan McAllister seconded, and it carried.
21-110-9008 State Operated Facility – alleges inadequate discharge planning due to the recipient not receiving all personal items upon discharge. The board tabled case opening at the November meeting to allow time for the revised policy on personal property to be received. The HRA obtained the revised policy and reviewed the changes that had been made. Ryan McAllister made a motion to not accept the complaint for further investigation due to an informal resolution being reached, Paul Jones seconded, and it carried.
21-110-9012 Community Mental Health Agency – alleges inadequate treatment. Reportedly, a recipient was to have 10 days of inpatient treatment. However, the agency released the recipient prior to the 10 days for being disruptive and throwing medications, which the recipient denies. Linda LaFoon made a motion to accept the complaint for investigation, Ryan McAllister seconded, and it carried. Releases have been received, but there needs to be clarification on one of them before the investigation can begin. Kim Conway will schedule the investigation once clarification is received.
Other New Business: The board met with applicant, Jessy Wright and discussed her experience and reasons for wanting to join the Human Rights Authority Board and the board explained what the duties would include if she was selected. After the discussion concluded, Jessy left the meeting.
Unfinished Business: Paul Jones made a motion to enter closed session at 6:14 p.m. pursuant to Section 21 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act (20 ILCS 3955/21) and Section 120/2 (c) (4) of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2); the motion was seconded by Linda LaFoon and it carried. The following summary of items were discussed in the closed session:
Case progress was reviewed for 19-110-9015, 20-110-9003, 20-110-9005, 20-110-9006, 20-110-9009, 20-110- 9011, 20-110-9014, 20-110-9015, 20-110-9017, 21-110-9001, 21-110-9002, 21-110-9005, 21-110-9009, 21- 110-9010 & 21-110-9011. Draft reports were reviewed for 19-110-9021 and 20-110-9008. 18-110-9022 was on the agenda for draft report review but was not ready in time for the meeting so it will be reviewed at the March meeting. Case closures were considered for 19-110-9019, 20-110-9001, 20-110-9007 & 21-110-9004. Paul Jones made a motion to return to open session at 8:41 p.m. having taken no action in closed session, Ryan McAllister seconded, and it carried.
Case Progress Reports:
To accommodate guest, Gayla Holbrook, the board moved case number 21-110-9009 to the top of the agenda.
21-110-9009 Southeastern Residential Alternatives (SRA) - alleges inadequate treatment planning due to residents not returning to day training services once COVID precautions were lifted by the State. Also alleges that in-home services are not occurring consistently, and outings are not occurring, including those that would be considered safer outings such as van rides, drive through restaurants or outdoor activities that could be socially distanced. The board discussed the allegations with Gayla Holbrook and how in-home day training is being carried out currently. The board also discussed return to in person day training outside of the homes. The board informed Gayla that the HRA would be contacting her to schedule the site investigation. Following this discussion at approximately 6:42 p.m. Ms. Holbrook left the meeting.
19-110-9015 Choate Developmental Center – Alleges a recipient is not being served in the least restrictive environment. Due to COVID-19 precautions, all transfers were placed on hold and have recently began again. The receiving CILA home was trained on the recipient’s behavior plan recently. The home is in the process of acquiring an additional home which this resident will reside. The recipient has now decided that he is interested in exploring other home options and the PAS agency will be scheduling another meeting to discuss options. This case is still under investigation.
20-110-9003 Chester Mental Health - Alleges inadequate treatment due to a recipient seeing his social worker infrequently and not being enrolled in any groups or rehabilitation classes. The case is ready for report.
20-110-9005 Marshall Browning Hospital – Alleges inadequate treatment and discrimination based on disability. Interviews with community counseling agency still need to be scheduled. The board discussed scheduling a phone conference to get this accomplished. The case is still under investigation.
20-110-9006 Choate Mental Health – Alleges inadequate admission process. Allegedly, the recipient waited approximately 11-12 hours for the facility to admit her even though there was a court order for her to be admitted to the facility. The case is ready for report.
20-110-9009 Choate Mental Health – Alleges a recipient is not being allowed time to finish his meals and that he was denied access to his trust fund money. There is a telephone conference scheduled for later this month to discuss the additional complaints. The case is still under investigation.
20-110-9011 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inadequate medical treatment. The case is ready for report.
20-110-9014 Trade Industries CILA – Alleges lack of communication with guardians and inadequate care and treatment. The site investigation was completed, and the requested information was received. The information needs to be reviewed to see if anything else is needed. The case is still under investigation.
20-110-9015 Choate Developmental Center – Alleges lack of guardian communication about legal status and that the facility is not allowing telephone communication. Also concerns that the recipient may not be in the least restrictive environment. A video site visit has been scheduled for later this month since the facility is still closed to visitors due to COVID-19 precautions. The case is still under investigation.
20-110-9017 Skystar CILA – Alleges inadequate care and treatment. The site investigation was completed along with an initial chart review. Chart documentation that was requested has been received and needs to be reviewed to see if anything else is needed. The case is still under investigation.
21-110-9001 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inadequate treatment due to recipient’s privileging level being reduced after a change in therapists. The site investigation needs to be scheduled, however in person visits cannot be completed at this time due to COVID-19 precautions. The recipient has discharged from the facility, so the board discussed records to be requested. The case is still under investigation.
21-110-9002 Choate Mental Health – Alleges inappropriate placement and inadequate treatment planning. A video site visit is scheduled for later this month due to COVID-19 precautions. The case is still under investigation.
21-110-9005 Chamness Care – alleges inadequate treatment planning. Records subpoenaed were received just prior to the meeting. The records need to be reviewed in detail. The case is still under investigation.
21-110-9010 Progressive Housing - alleges inadequate treatment planning due to residents not returning to day training services once COVID precautions were lifted by the State. Also alleges that in-home services are not occurring regularly, and outings are not occurring, including those that would be considered safer outings such as van rides, drive through restaurants or outdoor activities that could be socially distanced. The site investigation needs to be scheduled.
21-110-9011 TDL Group, Inc. - alleges inadequate treatment planning due to residents not returning to day training services once COVID precautions were lifted by the State. Also alleges that in-home services are not occurring regularly, and outings are not occurring, including those that would be considered safer outings such as van rides, drive through restaurants or outdoor activities that could be socially distanced. The site investigation needs to be scheduled.
Draft Reports:
18-110-9022 Lutheran Social Services – alleges inadequate treatment planning. The draft report was scheduled to be reviewed this month; however, the report was not completed in time for the meeting. It will remain on the agenda for draft report review for the March meeting.
19-110-9021 – Choate Developmental Center – Alleges the facility is not communicating with a recipient’s guardian and recipients are not receiving adequate outside fresh-air time. The board reviewed the draft report with substantiated findings. Linda LaFoon made a motion to approve the draft report pending supervisor review. Paul Jones seconded, and it carried.
20-110-9008 East Side Primary School – Alleges the school is not following a student’s Individualized Education Plan. The board reviewed the draft report with substantiated findings. Paul jones made a motion to approve the draft report as stated. Linda LaFoon seconded, and it carried.
Closures:
19-110-9019 Choate Mental Health – alleges recipients were inappropriately admitted to the mental health unit and are not being served in the least restrictive environment. The board reviewed response to the report of findings and discussed tabling closure to allow time for staff retraining and policy review as promised by facility. Rebecca Lewey made a motion to table case closure to allow time for proof of training and outcome of policy revisions, if made. Ryan McAllister seconded, and it carried.
20-110-9001 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inappropriate discharge of three recipients. The board reviewed the response to the report of findings and discussed tabling closure to allow time for proof of staff retraining to be provided. Linda LaFoon made a motion table case closure to allow time for proof of staff retraining to be provided. Beverly Warshawsky seconded, and it carried.
20-110-9007 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inadequate medical treatment due to seizure medication not being given as prescribed by a community physician prior to admission. The board reviewed the response to the report of findings and discussed tabling closure to allow time for staff retraining. Ryan McAllister made a motion to table case closure to allow time for proof of staff retraining to be provided. Paul Jones seconded, seconded, and it carried.
21-110-9004 Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center – alleges inhumane living conditions, breach of confidentiality and inadequate care and treatment. The case was opened at the November meeting. However, when the new complaint notification letter was sent to the provider, the HRA was made aware that this particular facility is not licensed to provide treatment to individuals with disabilities, which is a requirement for the HRA to conduct an investigation. The board reviewed licensure information that was provided as well as the outcome of an investigation that occurred by the agency’s oversight entity addressing the issues of the complaint. Since the issues had been addressed, there was no need for a referral. Linda LaFoon made a motion to close the case due to it being beyond the scope of the HRA’s authority. Rebeca Lewey seconded, and it carried.
Other Unfinished Business: The board reviewed and discussed the application of Jessy Wright and their thoughts after meeting her in person at the meeting tonight and had no objections to her being appointed to the HRA board. Ryan McAllister made a motion to approve the appointment of Jessy Wright to the HRA Board, Linda LaFoon seconded, and it carried. The next meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on March 18, 2021, tentatively in Carbondale, IL
Paul Jones made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m., Ryan McAllister seconded, and it carried.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gac/Press/Documents/minutes/2021/egypt012121minutes.pdf
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