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The Illinois Department of Public Health requires parents to supply proof of an exam from an eye disease specialist or licensed optometrist, administered within the previous 12 months before the school year begins. (Adobe Stock)

Early eye exams ensure healthy sight for IL children

Notebooks, writing tools and laptops are standard supplies on a parent's back-to-school shopping list. But one important appointment that can easily …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2024 Kids Count Book, 425,000 Illinois children live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Kids Count Data Book shows IL children fare well in health care, lag in academics

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book was released this week. The publication is a 50-state report of data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation about the …

MyPlate.gov says toddlers should sit upright for meals and snacks and not wander while eating items such as hot dogs, candy, nuts and seeds, raw carrots, grapes or popcorn, which may cause choking. (Adobe Stock)

University in IL studies link between toddler food access and development

Parents wanting to ensure their children have nutritious meals can serve as their best example, according to new data. Research from the University …

The University of Illinois-Chicago recommends children use a straw to help reduce the contact of sweetened beverages with teeth. (Adobe Stock)

Parents' dental habits set the tone for kids' healthy teeth

February is Children's Dental Health Month and experts said getting kids started early on good oral care sets the stage for a healthy lifetime habit…

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers its Soul Shop for Black Churches program to help faith leaders minister to congregants who may be struggling or who have been affected by suicide. (Adobe Stock)

Research shows harmful social media content impacts Black youths

Social media platforms are used by practically everyone but most widely by teens. One study pinpoints a link between online racism and higher rates …

The Illinois State Board of Education Literacy Standards indicate fourth graders should be able to determine the main idea of a text, explain how it is supported by key details and summarize the text. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Illinois' child well-being varies widely by race

A new report looks at children's well-being in every state and finds in Illinois, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its Race for …

According to America's Health Rankings, 16% of Illinois' children live in households below the federal poverty threshold, ranking Illinois as 27th in the nation for child poverty. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IL advocacy group insists state’s tax system hurts children

A new analysis of state tax systems finds the Illinois tax structure is unfair to low- and middle-income households, especially those with children…

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

According to the 2018 Illinois Autism Project Report, the prevalence of autism in Cook County was 1 in 46 children, which is higher than the statewide prevalence rate. (Adobe Stock)

Back-to-School Tips for Families of IL Kids with Autism

For a child on the autism spectrum, returning to school after the summer break may be viewed with anxiety and hesitancy. However, parents can pave …

Young people who are adjudicated as delinquent may be placed in multiple types of facilities, from youth prisons and detention centers, to residential treatment facilities or group homes. (Jan H. Andersen/Adobe Stock)

IL Sees Significant Long-Term Decline in Youth Incarcerations

Illinois is seeing a steady drop in youth arrests and therefore, fewer adolescents locked up in juvenile and adult detention facilities. Josh Rovner…

The new Kids Count Data Book says 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in the U.S. are not enrolled in preschool, which prepares young learners for elementary school. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Childcare Biggest Challenge for IL Families

Having access to reliable, affordable, high-quality child care benefits both children and adults, but a new report said it is not the norm for …

Feeding Illinois, which operates a network of food banks across the state, says one in 12 Illinois residents struggles with food insecurity, including one in nine children. (Aaron Doucett/Unsplash)

Increased Work Requirements Mean Fewer SNAP Benefits for Ilinoisans

Almost 2 million people in Illinois receive SNAP food assistance, but several hundred thousand are expected to lose access to it at the end of …

Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps helps children develop what experts refer to as executive function skills. (Delete/Adobe Stock)

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Tasks like packing a suitcase for summer travel may be difficult for some Illinois children. Experts said parents and caregivers can help kids over …

In addition to preschool investments, Smart Start Illinois includes $12 million for scholarships and internships to expand the childcare workforce. (junce11/Adobe Stock)

More Illinois Toddlers Head for 'Smart Start' in Early Education

Researchers say a lot of learning begins even before birth - and especially between birth and age five. Gov. JB Pritzker's "Smart Start Illinois" …

For the first time since 1998, the State of Illinois has updated the County Detention Standards for juvenile detention centers to reflect current best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Officials Hold First-Ever Review of IL Pretrial Juvenile Detention System

Attorneys, state employees and juvenile justice reform advocates will gather virtually Friday to receive updates on county pretrial juvenile …

According to the CDC, children who regularly see a dentist and brush daily with fluoride toothpaste are likely to have fewer dental problems as adults. (Adobe Stock)

Dentists: Teach Kids Good Dental Hygiene for a Lifetime of Smiles

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, giving parents another reason to watch their children's intake of Valentine candy this week…

Under the Expanded Child Tax Credit, the number of American children living in poverty in 2021 dropped by 46%. (Pexels)

Illinois Child Advocates Demand Action on Renewing Child Tax Credit

As Congress moves toward its deadline to pass a new budget, social advocates are urging lawmakers to reinstate the Enhanced Child Tax Credit for next …

Bullying is not gender specific; research indicates roughly equal numbers of girls and boys report being bullied. (Adobe Stock)

Bullying Prevention Means Awareness of Social-Emotional Learning

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and experts are reminding Illinoisans to be aware of the patterns within bullying. One in …

The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative is partnering with community groups to interrupt cycles of gun violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IL Leaders to Issue Call to Action Over Youth Gun Violence, Mental Health

State and local leaders are joining community groups for a call to action this weekend to draw attention to efforts to support at-risk youth in Illino…

Juvenile detentions dropped dramatically nationwide during the early part of the pandemic, but numbers have bounced back up, especially for African American youth. (Sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

IL Juvenile Justice Groups Press to Raise Age for Pre-trial Detention

Currently, children as young as 10 are held behind bars while awaiting trial in Illinois, and now, juvenile justice reform groups are calling for the …

Experts say mental health is just as important as physical health in a child's ability to thrive. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 213,000 Illinois Kids Struggle with Mental-Health Challenges

Children's advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the mental-health struggles facing Illinois kids. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released …

In a study of roughly 2,400 students spanning three years, a University of Pittsburgh study found more than a quarter of all Black students faced disciplinary actions for

Advocate: IL Schools Should Adopt Restorative-Justice Policies

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner for Illinois students. As children return to class, one advocate is urging school …

A 2019 report from the Economic Policy Institute found teacher shortages were especially acute in higher-poverty schools. (Adobe Stock)

Union Leaders Push for More Support for Students', Teachers' Mental Health

As the nation processes the horrific shooting in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were killed, teachers' unions across Illinois and America …

The Illinois Juvenile Justice Department operates five facilities across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile Justice Officials Undercount Incarcerated Kids

A new report revealed in 2019, young people in the United States were locked up in juvenile facilities nearly a quarter million times, and current …

A 2020 report from the Brennan Center notes that

IL Advocates, Lawmakers Call for Ending Virtual Hearings in Juvenile Court

At the beginning of the pandemic, Illinois transitioned most of its court operations online. Now, two years later, advocates and lawmakers are …

Black students are more likely to be suspended for discretionary reasons such as dress code or hairstyle. (simona/Adobe Stock)

Starting Next Year, Hair Discrimination Banned in IL Schools

Starting Jan. 1, a law goes into effect banning hair discrimination in Illinois schools. Studies have shown one in five Black women working in …

Most families of four making up to $300,000 per year would be eligible for savings on child care if the U.S. Senate passes the Build Back Better Act. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

IL Groups: Build Back Better Would Improve Children's Health

CHICAGO - Children's advocates in Illinois are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it passed the House last month…

Black youths are disproportionately impacted by the lack of a minimum age for criminal responsibility in Illinois; 60% to 62% of kids age 10 to 13 who are arrested are Black. (md3d/Adobe Stock)

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

CHICAGO -- At this week's World Congress on Justice with Children, Illinois experts and researchers shared ways the U.S. could work to get back in …

Approximately 28% of Illinois kids lived in households with a high housing cost burden in 2019, compared with 42% in 2010. (Darren Baker/Adobe Stock)

IL Child Well-Being Improved in Last Decade, Although Disparities Remain

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Child well-being in Illinois was looking up in 2019 compared with 2010, but advocates say the full impact of COVID-19 is yet to …

More than 450 students have completed the Curt's Caf� three-month workforce training and life-skills curriculum. (ibravery/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Training, Mentoring Programs Over Youth Incarceration

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice reform groups say helping young people with work and life-skills training reduces recidivism more effectively than …

The bill to ban deception in juvenile interrogations was passed unanimously by the Illinois State Senate. (Nick Youngson/Pix4free)

Illinois to Be First to Ban Deception in Interrogations of Juveniles

CHICAGO - Illinois is set to become the first state to prohibit the use of deception by law enforcement in interrogations of juveniles. Laura …

In the last decade, three of the Illinois Youth Center sites have closed. Groups that advocate against youth incarceration want the remaining five facilities to follow suit. (methaphum/Adobe Stock)

Interactive Tool Illustrates Incarceration's Impact on Young People

CLARIFICATION: The name of the organization that developed the tool, Performing Statistics, was added. (1:45 p.m. MST, May 20, 2021) CHICAGO - …

A bill to teach more Asian American history in schools has gained traction in the wake of an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the United States. (Sam Cheng/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Add Asian American History to IL School Code

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Racial-justice advocates are urging the state Senate to pass a bill called the TEAACH Act, making Illinois the first state to …

In 2019, about 76,000 children were prosecuted in the adult system, and more than 80% of them were racial minorities, according to a report from Human Rights for Kids. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Federal Bill Would Make Juvenile-Justice System More Fair, Age-Appropriate

CHICAGO -- A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers will introduce a package of bills to make the way children and teens are treated in the federal cri…

18-year-olds who commit misdemeanors are currently charged in adult court, but a bill seeks to change that. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Raise Age For Misdemeanor Cases In Juvenile Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would bring misdemeanor cases against older teenagers to juvenile court …

Students with daily school-day tutoring in the Chicago Public Schools were able to progress two to three times faster than their peers. (vlorzor/Adobe Stock)

Report: High School Not Too Late to Improve Student Outcomes

CHICAGO -- As school districts grapple with the pandemic's academic fallout, new research shows intensive in-school tutoring could help bridge the …

In 2020, nearly 60 kids younger than age 13 were detained in the Illinois juvenile-justice system. (cookcountyil.gov)

Report: Too Many IL Kids Detained Pre-Trial During Pandemic

CHICAGO - Illinois criminal-justice reform groups are urging legislative action to keep children and teens out of detention before their trials…

Educators are kicking off Black History Month with a week dedicated to sharing educational resources to fight racial bias and injustice in curricula and schools. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

IL Teachers Join Campaign to Improve Outcomes for Black Students

CHICAGO -- Many Illinois teachers are joining a national campaign this week, called Black Lives Matter At School, to raise awareness about structural …

A human rights report gives Illinois 3.5 points out of 10 for how kids are treated in the criminal-justice system. (AdobeStock)

Report: IL Out of Step on Juvenile-Justice Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Advocates say Illinois and many other states are out of step with other developed countries when it comes to the treatment of …

Census Household Survey data from this fall shows many Illinois families are behind on bill payments and struggling to keep food on the table. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 1 in 5 IL Families Unsure About Next Rent Payment

CHICAGO -- At least 20% of Illinois families with children said they had only "slight or no confidence" they'd make their next rent or mortgage paymen…

People in one in ten Illinois households with children say they

Hunger Levels Rise for IL Families as Holidays Approach

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The pandemic is causing massive hardships for Illinois families heading into the holidays. The latest Census Bureau survey …

More than 18,000 children in Illinois are waiting to be adopted. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Celebrates Forever Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Like many other observances in 2020, Adoption Awareness Month in Illinois is taking place in the virtual world. Throughout the …

In Illinois, 5.6% of Latino children do not have health insurance, compared to 4% of all children in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Sees 46% Spike in Number of Uninsured Kids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Even during a time when the economy was notably strong, Illinois lost ground in ensuring children have access to health coverage…

Infant mortality among Black infants in Illinois is two times the overall state rate. (AdobeStock)

Dual Reports Highlight Health Inequalities Among Illinois Kids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Dual reports featuring new data on child outcomes reveal persistent health inequalities among children in Illinois. The 2020 …

Research shows that automatic transfer laws disproportionately impact youth of color. (AdobeStock)

Case to End Automatic Adult Court Trial of Juveniles

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- New research suggests that, if given time for proper review, Illinois could greatly reduce the number of juvenile cases that are …

Summer meal sites help fill the gap for children in need of food when school isn't in session, and the pandemic won't change that this summer in Illinois. (Adobe Stock)

Summer Food Sites Ready to Welcome Illinois Kids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - As the school year comes to a close in Illinois, the Summer Food Service Program is gearing up to ensure children don't go hungry …

Kids age 5 and younger are the age group most likely to be missed in the 2020 census. (Adobe Stock)

It's Census Day: Are You Counting Your Kids?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Today is Census Day and the coronavirus crisis isn't stopping the once-a-decade count of Americans. Millions of federal dollars …

Illinois was the first state to expand Medicaid health-care coverage to undocumented children. (AdobeStock)

Gap Widens in Health Coverage for Illinois' Latino Kids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A strong health care infrastructure is crucial during times like these, but not all children in Illinois have equal access to …

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