HIGHWOOD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D- Lake Forest) is encouraging teens who currently or previously were under the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to apply for the 2022 DCFS Scholarship Program.

“This scholarship program provides a great range of opportunity for our vulnerable youth,” said Morrison. “With the necessary tools being provided, students are able to achieve higher education without financial burden weighing them down.”

Former and current DCFS youth who are between the ages of 16 and 21 are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit a personal statement along with three letters of recommendation from non-relatives. The selection committee also requests that applicants submit their scholastic record, community involvement and extracurricular activities for further evaluation. Applications will be accepted until March 31.

The DCFS Scholarship Program covers up to five consecutive years of tuition and provides academic fee waivers for its DCFS scholarship recipients. The program includes other benefits such as a monthly grant to aid in additional expenses and a medical card.

“This scholarship program is supportive and accommodating. I strongly advise eligible students to apply and allow opportunity to present itself,” said Morrison.  

Applications are available at any DCFS regional office and on the DCFS website, www2.illinois.gov/dcfs.

Students or caregivers may call the DCFS Office of Education and Transition Services at 217-557-2689 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions about the application process or for more information.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect children from the harmful effects of pesticides, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a newly signed law to make it illegal to use the chemicals near schools.

“Children are at higher risk for health effects from exposure to pesticides than adults because their nervous, immune, digestive and other systems are still developing, making them more susceptible to these pollutants compared to adults,” Morrison said.

The legislation will make it illegal to use restricted pesticides within 500 feet of a school during normal school hours when children are present. It comes following complaints that pesticides such as Dicamba and Chlorpyrifos can be harmful to both the environment and public health.

Half of the 2 million pesticide poisoning incidents each year involve children younger than six years old, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

“It’s clear that pesticide exposure is bad for children’s health,” Morrison said. “Today is the first step toward ending that unnecessary exposure.”

Senate Bill 2245 takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD – To help protect the lives of young children with food allergies, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a new law that will create anaphylactic policies for schools and day cares.

“Children spend most of their day at school, and both they and their parents deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that schools are well-equipped to assist when a student is having an allergic reaction,” Morrison said. “Creating a plan and training more employees on what to do if a student is having a reaction will save lives.” 

The new law requires an anaphylactic policy for daycares and schools to be created and include training course requirements, food allergy-specific guidelines, a communication plan, and exposure to allergen reduction strategies. It will be based on guidance and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and willbe shared with parents upon enrollment.

Additionally, each daycare will be required to have at least one staff member present at all times who has taken a training course in recognizing anaphylaxis.

“All children should be able to enjoy the same simple joys of school, safe in the knowledge that we’re ready to protect them in an emergency – and that starts with the help of the school community,” Morrison said.

Morrison has continuously been an advocate for helping children with allergies. In 2019, Morrison passed legislation to require insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors for minors.

House Bill 102 was signed into law Friday.

DEERFIELD – As a steadfast advocate of helping underserved children, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is excited to congratulate the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center on achieving re-accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance. 

The Lake County Children's Advocacy Center is a safe, child-focused environment where a child visits after police or the Department of Children and Family Services believes the child is being abused. The child tells their story to the trained interviewer, who then works with a team to help the child. 

“The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center serves as a guardian angel and an extra set of eyes the most at-risk children in our communities,” Morrison said. “This re-accreditation is a tremendous and well-deserved honor that will allow it to continue to bring great services to our community.” 

Receiving accreditation guarantees the advocacy center is providing the most consistent and evidence-based interventions to the children served. Additionally, it shows the advocacy center is at the forefront of best practices to help children who are abused and mistreated. 

To become accredited, the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center had to meet a number of standards including, but not limited to, victim support and advocacy, child focused settings, mental health services, and multi-disciplinary team representation. The Lake County-based group is the second largest performing children’s advocacy center in Illinois and has become a pilot location for other advocacy centers in the state.

“[We acknowledge] the extensive work the center and team has completed to demonstrate through both written documentation and observed practice that the CAC is in compliance with national accreditation standards,” the National Children’s Alliance said in its re-accreditation letter. “The standards and their accompanying criteria ensure that children and families in your community receive effective, efficient, relevant and compassionate services.”

Due to its accreditation, the center received $367,000 to help families across the county. Services include a juvenile advocate, two on-site mental health providers, and additional staff from the state’s attorney’s office. The Department of Children and Family Services is on site to participate in the Forensic Interview process, as well.