SPRINGFIELD – Children taken into protective custody under suspicion of abuse could soon take part in a forensic interview without parental consent as a result of legislation by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood).

House Bill 909, signed by the governor on Friday, addresses issues in cases where an abused minor’s parents do not wish for the child to participate in a criminal investigation that may implicate a family member or close friend.

“No one should feel obligated to protect their abuser when participating in a criminal investigation,” Lightford said. “Unfortunately, our children are often put in a position where they do not feel empowered to report their abuser and we’re hoping to bring that to an end.”

A forensic interview is an interview between a trained forensic interviewer and a child in which the interviewer obtains information in an unbiased and fact-finding manner, with the goal of supporting accurate and fair decision-making by caseworkers in the criminal justice and child protection systems.

The measure goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) hosts her 10th Annual Back-to-School Event on Sunday, July 28 at Brookfield Zoo.

Please note: The official date for the event is Sunday, July 28.

Get Cleared, Chicago is promoting a "Safe and Peaceful" Chicago at Barbershop-Beauty Shop "Rap Sheet" Sign-Up day at Don Vic's Barbershop and Hair Emporium 7745 S Halsted, Chicago 60620 on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA) in partnership with project lead, Enterprise Community Partners, is working with several local governments and public housing authorities within Cook County to conduct a Cook County Regional Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH). Through the Community Convener Grant awards, they seek expertise from directly impacted populations regarding ways to: address housing discrimination and segregation; advance affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households; create equitable opportunities to live, work, and flourish in any community; remedy policies and practices that lock segregation in place and create unjust disparities in life outcomes.

Who Should Apply?

Nonprofit organizations that work directly with one or more of the following populations within Cook County:

• Housing Choice Voucher holders and/or public housing residents
• People with disabilities
• Populations facing housing instability or homelessness
• Individuals living in disinvested areas and racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty (R/ECAPs)
• Populations with limited English proficiency
• People with arrest and conviction backgrounds

Community Convener Grant Awards

As part of the community engagement, “Community Convener Grant” awards will total $56,000.00, allowing for up to 8 to 10 awards across Cook County to support the targeted approach. These awards are meant to foster collaboration with and empowerment of key stakeholder groups.​