Illinois Department of Mental Health

The platform — BEACON — is aimed at both parents and providers in Illinois. It is scheduled to start this summer.

Officials acknowledged that news reporting had put a spotlight on conditions at the center for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. “Significant changes” are needed, the governor says.

Ongoing investigations of the state-run facility have revealed culture of abuse and cover-ups.

Newly obtained documents echo ProPublica's reporting on abuse, cover-ups and a “sense of impunity” at an Illinois institution for people with mental illnesses and developmental disorders. The governor has said Choate must be reformed.

An independent expert who has monitored the mental health care was terminated reducing the transparency around an often failing system.

Since February, patients in Illinois have been able to swap their opioid prescriptions for marijuana. And many are doing just that.