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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a responsibility to
3help crime victims access justice, assistance, and the support
4they need to heal; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Illinois Crime Victims' Voices: The First-Ever
6Survey of Illinois Victims' Views on Safety and Justice found
7that crime is a traumatic experience for nearly everyone who
8has been a victim and that nearly seven out of 10 crime victims
9experience traumatic symptoms across demographic
10characteristics; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Research has shown that people who are repeatedly
12victimized are more likely to face mental health problems such
13as depression, anxiety, and symptoms related to post-traumatic
14stress disorder and chronic trauma; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Victims living in communities experiencing
16concentrated crime are more likely to suffer from greater
17levels of chronic trauma than those who do not, and national
18data indicates that young adults, people with low incomes, and
19residents of urban areas experience the highest rates of
20victimization; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Research shows that people under the age of 30

 

 

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1are 24 percent more likely to be victims of violent crime and
241 percent more likely to be victims of serious violent crime;
3similarly, people with incomes of less than $25,000 per year
4are 25 percent more likely to be victims of violent crime and
546 percent more likely to be victims of serious violent crime;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Nearly 35 million children have experienced one
8or more types of childhood adversity, and approximately 72% of
9children and youth in the United States will have experienced
10at least one stressful event (e.g., witnessing or being a
11victim of violence, experiencing sexual, physical, or
12emotional abuse, suffering a serious injury or medical
13condition, or the death of a parent or sibling) before the age
14of 18; and
 
15    WHEREAS, These adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can be
16traumatizing and, if not recognized and treated, can affect
17health across the life span and, in some cases, result in a
18shortened life span; and
 
19    WHEREAS, A growing body of research demonstrates that
20untreated trauma, especially among those who experience repeat
21victimization, can contribute to substance abuse, mental
22health issues, housing instability, and other problems that
23increase risky behaviors and lead to further victimization or

 

 

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1crime itself; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Trauma-informed care has been promoted and
3established in communities across the country on a bipartisan
4basis, including in the states of California, Florida,
5Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and
6Wisconsin; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Numerous federal agencies have integrated
8trauma-informed approaches into their programs and grants,
9which should be leveraged by the State of Illinois; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Infants, children, and youth and their families
11who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma,
12including those who are low-income, homeless, involved with
13the child welfare system, involved in the juvenile or adult
14justice system, unemployed, or not enrolled in or at risk of
15dropping out of an educational institution and live in a
16community that has faced acute or long-term exposure to
17substantial discrimination, historical oppression,
18intergenerational poverty, a high rate of violence or drug
19overdose deaths, should have an opportunity for improved
20outcomes; this means increasing access to greater
21opportunities to meet educational, employment, health,
22developmental, community reentry, permanency from foster care,
23or other key goals; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3an urgent and significant need exists to discuss and evaluate
4public policies affecting trauma and social determinants of
5health; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That we recognize the importance, effectiveness,
7and need for trauma-informed care among existing programs and
8agencies in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That we express our support for the
10establishment of this effort and urge the citizens of this
11State to become more aware of trauma and its effects on
12communities across Illinois; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
14delivered to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney
15General.