CHICAGO – Building off her success in leading a whole-child, trauma-informed approach to helping youth, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is celebrating the launch of the Children’s Adversity Index – a pivotal step in identifying and addressing systemic challenges impacting communities statewide.

"The Children's Adversity Index represents exactly the kind of comprehensive, data-driven approach we need to tackle the complex challenges facing Illinois families. By mapping adversity across our communities and identifying where resources are most needed, we're moving beyond treating symptoms to addressing root causes,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This tool will be invaluable as we work to ensure every child in Illinois has the support they need to thrive, regardless of their ZIP code.”

As part of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ Four Pillar Agenda in 2021, Lightford created the Whole Child Task Force to analyze statewide data related to childhood trauma exposure. The group outlined its report in 2022, which included the need for the Child Adversity Index – a comprehensive, data-driven perspective on adverse community conditions affecting Illinois youth. Its creation became law in 2023 and came to fruition this month.

The index – which takes into account community risk trajectories, unmet needs and barriers to economic progress – compares trauma exposure levels of each Illinois community to others and to the state average to inform state action to address childhood trauma. Interactive maps illustrate the distribution of adversity across Illinois. A statewide map displays each community’s overall exposure level, while separate maps for each domain provide a more detailed view of community-specific trauma exposure.

Policymakers, service providers, and state- and regional-level leaders across sectors will be able to use this data to take meaningful action to expand and tailor services to meet community-specific needs and ensure financial resources, including public and private grant dollars, and programming are prioritized for communities facing the highest levels of trauma exposure.

The index underscores the relationship between adverse community conditions and childhood trauma. It is used to evaluate communitywide data to analyze adverse incidents and environmental conditions that contribute to trauma exposure.

“The Children’s Adversity Index shines a light on the contextual factors that are essential to understanding barriers and opportunities in the communities that surround our schools,” said Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Chief Officer Dr. Dana Weiner. “The collaborative process for developing the Index with state and local partners alongside experts in child development and trauma provides a model approach for pursuing rigorous, data-informed systems change." 

To access the live index, related data and further information, people can visit www.isbe.net/adversityindex​.