The Illinois Juvenile Justice System Faces COVID-19
Courtesy of University of Chicago By
This is the third article in The Maroon
’s series on how the pandemic has affected youth involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The last two articles focused on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), while this article discusses how the pandemic has disrupted the lives of youth in the state’s juvenile jails and prisons. Many of the most vulnerable children in Illinois come into contact with both systems. Approximately one third of the children involved in the child welfare system come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
Two more Northwest suburban vaccination clinics announced
State officials Wednesday announced two more COVID-19 vaccination clinics coming to the Northwest suburbs.
On Friday, April 30, Saturday, May 1, and Monday, May 3, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Department of Human Services will host a vaccination site at the North Suburban Family Community Resource Center, located on the fourth floor at 3501 Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows.
Anyone age 16 and older can call (847) 483-7165 and leave a message with a name and number, and a representative will return the call to schedule an appointment. Time slots are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. all three days, where the first of two Pfizer doses will be administered.
Credit: MEMORIAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Memorial s Living Room is at 710 N. Eighth St. and operates from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays. Mental health care should not be a luxury. And those in crisis don t always need to be hospitalized. That s part of the philosophy behind a state-funded program that brings free crisis care to people regardless of whether they have medical insurance. The pandemic has increased the need for mental health care. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the rate of U.S. adults who reported symptoms of depression and anxiety rose from 10% to about 40% from 2019 to 2020. Sleep disorders and substance abuse were more prevalent in 2020 than prior years as well, according to research from the nonprofit that conducts health policy analysis. Isolation and job loss has exacerbated mental health problems.
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SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS â Braxton Lear is 5 years old and tall for his age. He runs â not walks â from his scooter, to the swing set, to the trampoline in his great-auntâs backyard in Caseyville, about 12 miles east of St. Louis.
Braxtonâs mom, Shannon Lear, asks him whatâs his name, how old is he, and whatâs her name. He answers.
âHe couldnât do that a year ago,â Lear said.
Braxton was diagnosed with autism around his third birthday. For the past year and a half, heâs been receiving autism behavioral therapy from the Hope Institute, which Lear said has completely changed his behavior and strengthened their bond.
Megan Valley and Raymon Troncoso
Belleville News Democrat & Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Braxton Lear is 5 years old and tall for his age. He runs – not walks – from his scooter, to the swing set, to the trampoline in his great-aunt’s backyard in Caseyville, about 12 miles east of St. Louis.
Braxton’s mom, Shannon Lear, asks him what’s his name, how old is he, and what’s her name. He answers.
“He couldn’t do that a year ago,” Lear said.
Braxton was diagnosed with autism around his third birthday. For the past year and a half, he’s been receiving autism behavioral therapy from the Hope Institute, which Lear said has completely changed his behavior and strengthened their bond.