NCJ Number
119233
Date Published
1987
Length
62 pages
Annotation
This report presents 81 recommendations designed to improve the lives of children in Illinois by addressing both basic needs like education, employment, and health care and by remedying problems like poverty, abuse and neglect, substance abuse, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, and juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
The Task Force that developed the recommendations noted that the rates of poverty, school dropouts, drug and alcohol use, gangs, and teenage suicides all point to the need for additional resources as well as more effective allocation of current public resources. Thus, it recommends that the State focus on prevention by addressing children's and families' needs before a crisis exists. In addition, the State should commit resources to strengthen communities, use comprehensive approaches, encourage established institutions to be more flexible and innovative, improve the impact of the State government, and broaden instruction by the schools, the religious institutions, and the media on vital issues. To advance this effort the State needs a statewide, comprehensive child advocacy organization governed by business, civic, and community leaders. Therefore, the Task Force has created the nonprofit organization Voices for Illinois' Children. List of people interviewed is included.