SPRINGFIELD – To assess the progress being made to place youth in care in appropriate settings, State Senator Lakesia Collins passed legislation to require the Department of Children and Family Services to annually report the number of youth in care who are erroneously placed in temporary living settings.

“We need to see the accurate numbers from DCFS and ensure that we are accounting for all children in foster care and what their living situations are,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “It is so important to make sure children are in safe and healthy living conditions, and with this data we can more accurately assess problems and potential solutions.”

Under Collins’s legislation, House Bill 4758, DCFS’ Annual Youth in Care Waiting Placement Report would be required to include the number of youth in care who remained in temporary living spaces, such as psychiatric hospitals, out-of-state residential facilities, detention centers or other emergency placements like shelters.

SPRINGFIELD – To promote and highlight the University of Illinois Cancer Center, State Senator Lakesia Collins passed a resolution to honor the dedication of UICC as an accredited National Cancer Institute in Illinois.

“The researchers and employees at UICC work day and night to continue their progress on combating cancer, and it is my honor to recognize their efforts toward accreditation,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “UICC is now recognized as one of the three institutions in the state that are NCI-designated cancer centers, which will help increase access to quality cancer care in Illinois.”

Senate Resolution 727 recognizes the University of Illinois Cancer Center and its strides toward reduced inequalities in cancer outcomes as well as scientific solutions for equitable outcomes in cancer care.

SPRINGFIELD – After a Chicago resident was unable to obtain records regarding a deceased relative from the state, State Senator Lakesia Collins pushed forward legislation that would help individuals access their deceased families’ records.

“If someone needs to obtain records about their relative, we need systems in place to allow for the transfer of that information,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “With this legislation we are creating a clear pathway for people trying to secure the information of their deceased to make the process easier.”

Senate Bill 2715 would require the Illinois Department on Aging to establish procedures for the disclosure of program records by the Long Term Care Ombudsman.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Lakesia Collins is pushing for a measure known as Liam’s Law to provide better bereavement support measures to parents experiencing perinatal and infant loss.

“This legislation is a continuation of our efforts to provide more options to families when perinatal loss occurs,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “Requiring hospitals to notify parents of their rights is the least they can do during such painful circumstances.”

Collins is working to establish Liam’s Law to better support families in these circumstances. The measure would require hospitals to notify the parents of their right to receive a certificate of birth resulting in a stillbirth following a spontaneous fetal death during or after the second trimester.