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Regulators Say Yes To Closing Singer

Courtesy of Friends of Singer Facebook page

Illinois regulators have given their consent to the state's plan to close Rockford's Singer Mental Health Center this fall. The decision by the Health Facilities Services and Review Board came in a 5 to 3 vote this week.

Governor Pat Quinn has already signed off on plans to close Singer at the end of October. The facility will stop taking in new admissions October First.

Quinn's office says it's part of a larger plan to cut down on costs, and focus on community-based care. Moving forward, the state plans to shift about half of Singer's annual operating costs, about $14 million, to community services.

More than a dozen agencies from the region are developing a new care system to treat those dealing with a mental health crisis. Singer employees say the closure will have a negative impact on chronic mental illness services being provided in the area.