Sen. Julie Morrison Champions Child Safety, Supports Advocacy Centers Serving Northern Suburbs

DES PLAINES, IL — State Sen. Julie Morrison is continuing her push to strengthen protections for vulnerable children, joining advocates in Springfield to highlight the role of Child Advocacy Centers and advance legislation aimed at improving care for victims of abuse.

Morrison, who represents communities across the northern suburbs including Des Plaines, emphasized that protecting children and supporting families remains one of her top priorities. At a recent Capitol press conference, she stood alongside Child Advocacy Center leaders to call attention to the services these centers provide and the need to expand access through Senate Bill 3510.

“Every child deserves to feel safe, heard and supported,” Morrison said. “Child Advocacy Centers give children in crisis a place where they can share their story once, in a compassionate and coordinated environment designed around their needs.”

Across Illinois, 41 Child Advocacy Centers serve every county, including families in suburban Cook and Lake counties. These centers provide a one-stop location for children who have experienced abuse, offering forensic interviews, counseling, victim advocacy and prevention education in a child-friendly setting.

For families in the northern suburbs, this model reduces trauma by limiting the number of times a child must recount their experience and ensures that law enforcement, medical professionals and social service providers are working together.

Morrison’s legislation, Senate Bill 3510, is designed to strengthen that collaborative approach. The measure would improve coordination among multidisciplinary teams by allowing secure access to relevant records and facilitating confidential information sharing during investigations.

It would also expand team participation to include personnel from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and, when appropriate, local schools — a move Morrison says will help ensure children receive more comprehensive support.

In addition, the bill would require that parents, guardians or other trusted adults are notified when a child undergoes a forensic interview, helping families stay informed during difficult situations.

The legislation also increases penalties for repeat offenders, making a second or subsequent conviction for endangering a child’s life or health a Class 3 felony.

For Morrison, the issue is both legislative and deeply personal to the communities she serves.

Senate Bill 3510 is currently awaiting action in the full Senate, with Morrison pledging to continue advocating for policies that prioritize child safety and long-term healing for families across Illinois.