This report evaluates a trauma-informed professional development program for Illinois educators, designed to enhance their knowledge, confidence, and preparedness in addressing trauma-related issues in the classroom. The program, structured around Problem-Based Learning (PBL), focused on identifying critical facts, forming hypotheses, recognizing student strengths in trauma-related scenarios, and reducing bias. The findings revealed significant improvements in participants’ understanding and…

In this issue: A new Racial Disproportionality report, plus a rundown of our most downloaded reports of 2024!

HB2914 requires the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to submit an annual report regarding racial disproportionality for children involved in the Illinois child welfare system. The report, which is due on December 31 of each year, must examine the following indicators: children and families involved in a safety plan, protective custodies, investigations and indicated investigations of each type of abuse and neglect, court filings for each type of abuse and neglect, substitute…

This is the executive summary of the FY2024 Report in Response to HB2914.  This report examines racial disproportionality in the Illinois child welfare system in the following indicators: children and families involved in a safety plan, protective custodies, investigations and indicated investigations of each type of abuse and neglect, court filings for each type of abuse and neglect, substitute care entries, placement settings, lengths of stay in foster care, and permanency outcomes. The…

For over six years, simulation training has been delivered to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) child protection specialists. Over a thousand newly hired professionals have participated. To evaluate the impact of this training, a Simulation Training Follow-up survey (STF) was conducted targeting several key areas: trainees' appraisals of their training experience, the skills they acquired and applied in the field, and their suggestions for future improvements. This research…