Reprinted investigative series published by AFSCME

Publication date: 1985
(The AFSCME reprint is dated 1985; the original investigative articles were published in the Cincinnati Enquirer in late 1984.)

This publication compiles a series of investigative newspaper articles examining the impact of deinstitutionalization in Ohio during the early 1980s. The reporting documents how large numbers of people were moved from state institutions into community group homes without sufficient planning, oversight, or resources. Through detailed case examples, the articles highlight concerns about inadequate staffing, weak monitoring systems, inconsistent medical care, and risks to health and safety following these transitions.

The collection also explores broader system failures, including regulatory gaps, political pressure to close institutions quickly, and the rapid growth of private providers without strong accountability. Families, advocates, and professionals raised alarms as problems emerged, leading to lawsuits, public scrutiny, and calls for reform. By reprinting this series, AFSCME sought to draw attention to the consequences of under-resourced system change and to emphasize that community living must be supported by strong safeguards, funding, and oversight to truly protect people’s well-being.

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