ICOY’s Statement on Heidi Mueller’s Appointment to Serve as Next DCFS Director
Heidi Mueller, current Director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), has been appointed by Governor Pritzker to serve as the next Director of…
Illinois Collaboration on Youth Partners with Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s All Children-All Families Initiative
The post below was jointly written by ICOY and HRC and has been reposted from hrc.org For many people, including LGBTQ+ people, forming a…
August 2023 Legislative Tours Recap
In August, Caritas Family Solutions and Maryville Academy partnered with ICOY to host Legislative Outreach Tours at their facilities in Belleville and Bartlett, respectively….
ICOY’s Illinois Court of Claims Lapsed Appropriation Flow Chart
Above is a flow chart of the lapsed appropriations process at the Illinois Court of Claims. This process applies for state vendors who provide…
The Problem With Qualified Residential Treatment Programs in Illinois and the Solution to Repair It
by Ashley DeckertNovember 16, 2022 Illinois is no stranger to the youth mental health crisis and its impact on the state and more specifically…
Know What to Expect in This Year’s Election
Each election season, a friend of ICOY’s prepares a guide to help you know what to anticipate during the election. Here is this year’s…
Shifting the Narrative on Abuse and Neglect
Recently, the ICOY Policy Team hosted a panel discussion, “Shifting the Narrative on Abuse and Neglect.” It focused on prevention, policy solutions, and the…
Child Welfare Workforce Crisis & the Pat McGuire Child Welfare Education Fellowship Program
Child Welfare Workforce Crisis In recent years, the child welfare system has experienced high rates of employee turnover. The workforce is struggling to retain…
Legislation in IL: School Standards for Sex Education and Life-Threatening Allergies
Recently, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation that updates the state’s standards for sex education in K-12 schools. The voluntary standards will emphasize health, safety,…
Legislation in IL: Inclusive & Safe Learning Environments & Transgender Individuals’ Rights
In recent news, Governor JB Pritzker has signed multiple bills into legislation that directly impact youth in Illinois. Additionally, the “State Second District Appellate Court of Illinois affirmed the expansive protections of…