Morrison expands crisis intervention services to vulnerable youth under new law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a law signed Friday to divert the state’s vulnerable youth from juvenile justice systems or the Department of Children and Family Services’ care, while working to keep families together. 

“Providing immediate on-site crisis intervention for vulnerable youth can be the difference between a spending their young life in a loving home or in the juvenile justice system,” Morrison. “This is an already successful program that we can take further advantage of to ensure children get the help and support they need.”

The law allows child welfare agencies under the Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Service Program to be licensed as host homes. When an issue with a child occurs, they can be temporarily removed from their household to receive the intervention they need. Giving vulnerable youth ages 11-17 the opportunity to get temporary assistance leads them to reunification with their families rather than being placed in the care of DCFS or becoming part of the juvenile justice system.

Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Service Programs – or CCYBS – designate community-based services to provide immediate crisis intervention programs to children who are homeless without parents, beyond control of their parents, have run away from home, have been locked out of their homes or are at risk of involvement with the child welfare or juvenile justice system.

CCYBS’ offer resources to ensure the safety of children, provide placement services and work with families on reunification – among other services – that can help get at-risk youth on the right track.

“Our top priority is ensuring we keep children in healthy, safe environments that will allow them to grow and prosper,” Morrison said. “By providing support, assistance and education to teens and their parents alike, we are helping them build positive family dynamics.”

House Bill 692 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2023.

In the news: Legislator Pushes for Law Requiring Illinois Hospitals to Report All Assaults to Police

From ProPublica, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021

An Illinois lawmaker said she will propose legislation to require hospital employees to report suspected patient-on-patient sexual assaults to law enforcement.

The proposal, from State Sen. Julie Morrison, a Lake Forest Democrat, was prompted by a ProPublica investigation that found that Roseland Community Hospital officials failed to report a possible sexual assault of a patient in its psychiatric ward, even though it was captured on surveillance video.

Morrison, chair of the senate health committee, said she was “appalled that a report was not made to law enforcement.” Currently, only alleged assaults of patients by hospital employees must be reported to law enforcement.

“I don’t believe any patient should lose the human rights of being protected in a hospital, regardless of who assaults them,” Morrison said in an interview. “People in these locked facilities are very vulnerable anyway. They have so many issues they are trying to deal with, and to not have that very minimal protection for their safety is totally unacceptable.” Read more

Morrison to focus on the future of heath care

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• Health Care

Morrison leads Senate Health Committee hearing on future of health care Thursday

CHICAGO – As health care continues to evolve, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) wants to study trends and have open dialogue with health care professionals to bring Illinois to the forefront of the future of care.

That led her to chair a Senate Heath Committee Subject Matter Hearing on the future of health care Thursday.

 “We have an opportunity to rely on the data and innovation behind the booming health care and IT industries and start to forecast our health care future,” Morrison said.

Morrison spearheaded the committee to discuss the future of health care – including innovations in telehealth, technology and other ways in which health care is being delivered.

During the committee, she was joined by a number of health care and IT professionals. They dove into the economics, innovation, data and delivery of services surrounding the health care system. Together, Morrison and the committee discussed ways in which the state can help people in all corners of Illinois receive quality, affordable health care.

“Today’s committee was a chance to look ahead and define ways in which we can ensure a future that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity in the health care realm,” Morrison said. “This is just the beginning of charting a course for modern medicine and life sciences in Illinois.”

As her time in the Illinois General Assembly continues, Morrison hopes to have more frequent conversations about how to put the state on track to forecasting a future that encompasses accessible and reliable care for all.

Morrison announces $1.1 million coming to Chicago Executive Airport

WHEELING – Chicago Executive Airport – which sees 80,000 corporate, charter and light recreational aircraft each year – will receive more than $1 million in funding to make upgrades, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) announced Wednesday.

“Chicago Executive Airport gives corporate travelers and recreational flyers a unique experience to fly into the less crowded suburbs and head into the city,” Morrison said. “The upgrades made will allow even more people to take advantage of the state of the art facility.” 

Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling will receive nearly $1.1 million to work on some of its roads and parking. The money granted is part of a $94 million funding project to revitalize both large and small airports across the country.

Morrison was proud to support the Rebuild Illinois capital program in 2019, which created a six-year plan to update the state’s aging transportation system, create jobs and promote economic growth. The money allocated to Chicago Executive Airport came from the bipartisan, multi-regional plan.

A full list of recipients can be viewed by visiting https://idot.click/rbi-airport-program-awards.