REPORT DIGEST

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES --
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

PERFORMANCE AUDIT
Audit performed in accordance with The
Department of Human Services Act (20 ILCS
1305/1-17(w))

Release Date:  January 2021

State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor
General
FRANK J. MAUTINO, AUDITOR GENERAL

To obtain a copy of the Report contact:
Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park
Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL
62703
(217) 782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887

This Report Digest and Full Report are
also available on the worldwide web at
www.auditor.illinois.gov

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Department of Human Services Act
(Act) requires the Office of the
Inspector General (OIG) to investigate
allegations of abuse and neglect that
occur in mental health and developmental
disability facilities operated by the
Department of Human Services (DHS). The
Act also requires the OIG to investigate
allegations of abuse and neglect that
occur in community agencies licensed,
certified, or funded by DHS to provide
mental health and developmental
disability services.

For FY20, there were a total 518
community agencies with 4,401 program
sites that were under the investigative
jurisdiction of the OIG. In addition,
there were also 14 State-operated
facilities under the investigative
jurisdiction of the OIG. OIG
investigators in many cases are
responsible for hundreds of program sites
covering large areas of the State, as
well as 14 State-operated facilities.

In this audit we reported that:

• There is an overall correlation between
the increase in the total number of
allegations and the worsening of case
completion timeliness.

• From FY10 to FY18 the total number of
allegations reported at community
agencies has increased by 1,200 (1,500 to
2,700) or 80 percent. During the same
time period, the total allegations at
State-operated facilities has increased
at a much slower rate. From FY10 to FY18
the total number of allegations reported
at State-operated facilities increased by
205 (967 to 1,172) or 21 percent.

• For FY18, FY19 and FY20, community
agency allegations accounted for 70
percent, 68 percent, and 67 percent of
all reported allegations of abuse or
neglect, respectively.

• According to OIG data, during FY20 it
took an average of 117 working days (or
170 calendar days) to complete an
investigation.

• For FY18, FY19, and FY20, the
percentage of cases completed within 60
working days was 44 percent, 38 percent,
and 45 percent, respectively.

• There are no investigative completion
timeliness standards for the OIG in
statute or administrative rule. Only
OIG’s directives contain a 60 working day
completion requirement for
investigations.

• OIG case reports we reviewed generally
were thorough, comprehensive, and
addressed the allegation.

This audit report contains a total of 16
recommendations to the OIG and DHS. The
OIG and DHS generally agreed with the
recommendations in the report.

(Please see the full PDF version of this
executive summary to view exhibits.)