Senators Johnson, Morrison: A warm home is a basic human necessity

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — As the cold winter months begin and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) and State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) urged Gov. JB Pritzker to establish a new moratorium against utility shut-offs. 

“The high cost associated with electricity and gas bills during the winter months are already difficult for so many at-risk families — the addition of layoffs stemming from the ongoing public health crisis will make it even harder,” Morrison said. “No one should have to worry about how to keep their family safe and warm. A warm home is a basic human necessity that absolutely no one should have to go without.”

Johnson and Morrison, alongside other members of the Illinois Senate, sent Pritzker a letter Monday, urging him to establish a moratorium against utility shut-offs this winter. Although the Illinois Commerce Commission previously negotiated a voluntary moratorium with some companies — it’s not mandatory, nor have all companies signed on. The members of the Senate who sent the letter told the governor Illinois residents need assurances that they will continue to have heat, even if the pandemic causes them financial hardship. 

“Families are already coping with the stress of potentially becoming ill from COVID-19. We must alleviate further potential illness stemming from a lack of proper heat,” Johnson said. “We, as Illinoisans, must continue to be nationwide leaders who show that we will prioritize every person’s needs — regardless of financial background, race or ZIP code.” 

Morrison and Johnson urge Pritzker to immediately create a utility moratorium plan.

Morrison commends Maryville Academy on grant to help serve vulnerable youth

DEERFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is congratulating Maryville Academy in Des Plaines on receiving a $200,000 state grant for a six bed expansion to serve at-risk adolescent females.

“Maryville and the other recipients of this grant have the critical job of serving the most vulnerable of our youth,” said Morrison, who has worked for years to improve the quality of care received by youth served by the Department of Children and Family Services. “It’s great that this grant will allow them to serve more young women.”

These DCFS-awarded Residential Capital Improvement Grants were funded by the General Assembly to increase bed capacity and program funding for medically complex youth and youth with severe mental health issues. 

“Expanding residential homes like Maryville means that girls and young women of Illinois get the help they need,” Morrison said. “With the ongoing public health crisis, supporting these populations is more important than ever.” 

Six residential and group homes were awarded grants, totaling $866,000, to help replace some of the more than 500 residential beds the state has lost in recent years.

Senators Morrison, Johnson congratulate local museums for grant award

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. —State Senators Julie Morrison and Adriane Johnson are congratulating a number of Lake County-based museums who were awarded part of a $22.8 billion grant to improve facilities and develop new exhibits. 

“Museums serve as a place for people to explore, families to bond and children to learn,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Due to the ongoing public health crisis, many of these outstanding facilities have lost money, despite continuing to share their facilities with the public through new virtual ways.” 

Buffalo Grove Park District was one of more than three dozen institutions to receive part of the $22.8 million in funding. The Educational Gardens at The Nature Classroom program through the park district received $246,000. 

“Museums and the exhibits and programs they offer help tell a story of our community and state’s history,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “The additional funding will allow these institutions to expand, grow and create more opportunities for Lake County residents and all who visit.”

The Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, spearheaded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, was open to any museum operated by a local government or located on municipally-owned land.

The  Waukegan History Museum Expansion at the Carnegie Center through the Waukegan Park District, located in the district Johnson represents, also received $750,000 in assistance through the grant program. 

Additionally, the Chicago Botanic Garden, located in the district Morrison represents, received $750,000 for water main improvements. 

For more information on the Museum Capital Grant Program, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s website.

Morrison congratulates Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center on national re-accreditation

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.