Human Rights Safety Violations Plague Community Agency for People with Developmental Disabilities

Equip for Equality Calls for Closure of These Are God's People Too

The Abuse Investigation Unit of Equip for Equality (EFE) recommends that the state stop doing business with These Are God's People Too and that the agency close the facilities it operates. It also recommends that the state reexamine the entire system by which community service providers are reviewed and sanctioned.

Graphic Depicting Human Rights Safety Violations

Seven unannounced on-site investigations during a recent 15-month period documented the agency's continuing manifestation of substandard, dangerous and negligent conditions, unsafe restraint techniques, absence of programming and misuse of public funds that impacted the safety and health of approximately 40 individuals with developmental disabilities receiving services.

"The problems we documented illustrate the ineffectiveness of the current enforcement system to address problematic facilities by either compelling prompt improvements or closing their doors," says Deborah M. Kennedy, Unit Director. "Despite significant efforts by the Department of Human Services (DHS) over more than a year, including the issuance of multiple citations for serious deficiencies resulting in the loss of state funding for a brief period, These Are God's People Too did not even begin to address the deplorable conditions until they were confronted with the risk of losing their license." Read the Full Article...

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Spotlight: Human Rights Safety Violations

"If it is clear that there must be reform of Illinois' oversight system, then why would the state bend over backwards to keep an agency that has total disregard for the most basic human rights of people with disabilities?" asks Zena Naiditch, President and CEO.

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