Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) on Thursday, February 22nd to tour the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia.
“After many years of trying to schedule an Illinois Lt. Governor to tour Murray Center at my invitation, I am pleased that Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton accepted the invitation to tour this wonderful place on Thursday that residents call their home,” said Rep. Charlie Meier. “We have had both Governor Rauner and Governor Pritzker tour Murray Center before they were elected governor to showcase what we believe is the premiere SODC in the state.”
Murray Center is one of seven State-operated developmental centers (SODCs) which are residential programs serving people with developmental disabilities who have severe medical and/or behavioral needs.
Rep. Meier added, “Lt. Governor Stratton also took the time to meet with residents at Murray as well as Officers of the Murray Parents Association. We had a wonderful visit with the Lt. Governor, she is welcome to visit us any time.”
Along with Lt. Governor Stratton, the following also joined the tour, Dulce Quintero, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Director for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Tonya Piephoff, and Kimberly Jones-Oparah Interim Deputy Director of State Operated Developmental Centers also joined the tour.
Pictured above, visitors at Murray Center are required to wear a mask when around our most vulnerable residents per the policy of the Illinois Department of Public Health.