The future of Singer Mental Health Center's Campus

The state is asking for proposals from providers such as Rosecrance on how psychiatric services can be provided to the Northern Illinois counties that singer serves.

This might include using Singer's facilities in order to expand the mental health resources available in the community.

Rosecrance released this statement "it is our belief that, if singer does close, community providers would be called upon to offer expanded services to individuals in psychiatric crisis. This new system of care would involve expanding the number of crisis beds that are available in the community, and would require a "rebalancing" of state funding, according to the state's language."

Illinois' request for information or RFI seeks the input in order to rebalance the mental health system. The governor hopes to provide community based alternatives to institutional care. Local law makers say that plan just isn't cost efficient for the region. This because of the population singer serves. They'd like the state to keep a portion of singer open providing care for the criminally insane.

Illinois Senator Dave Syverson explained "we can use the rest of the facility to do a private sector program with Rosecrance who deals with the majority of people who have mental illness in this community."

Rosecrance and other behavioral health providers have until august 13th to submit their proposals. Law makers say the chances of singer staying open are slim. If a partnership isn't agreed upon the building could also be used as government offices or a possible DMV according to Syverson.

A public meeting is being held Monday at 1 P.M. at the Coronado Theater in Rockford. Lawmakers, law enforcement and the State Facilities Review Board will all attend.