HIGHWOOD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D- Lake Forest) is urging current and former youth under the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to apply for the 2023 DCFS Scholarship Program.

“Furthering education can open so many doors for children, especially our most vulnerable youth,” said Morrison, who has been a steadfast advocate for funding and resources for DCFS. “This scholarship opportunity can give students the tools they need to succeed in higher education, so I urge anyone who can to apply.”

The DCFS Scholarship Program is open to youth who have an open DCFS case, whose cases were closed through adoption or guardianship, or who aged out of care at 18 or older. Youth who are at least 16 years old and not yet 21 on March 31 may apply. The program will award 53 academic scholarships in total.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison worked in tandem with local law enforcement officials to help pass a measure that clarifies the Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T Act and ensures smooth implementation of the law.

“I have heard the concerns from law enforcement and legal professionals – as well as community members – about the SAFE-T Act. While I supported the Pretrial Fairness Act, there were a number of items in the original law that needed clarification,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Over several months I talked with local law enforcement and other stakeholders about their concerns and am thankful they had a seat at the table during negotiations on this bill.”

A joint effort, the bill provides clarification to the Pretrial Fairness Act portions of the SAFE-T Act since its passage in January 2021. In recent months, a campaign against the law overwhelmed social media and headlines of fake newspapers, leaving many Illinoisans confused on what the law actually does and leaving law enforcement with a number of questions.

House Bill 1095 clarifies the law by explaining judges can issues warrants and summons, providing a reminder that any person who poses a threat to the community or someone else – including trespassers – can be arrested, and clarifying court authority when it comes to electronic monitoring, among other items.  

“I am pleased we were able to work together to put forth a comprehensive measure that makes the law clearer, makes implementation smoother, and – most importantly – makes communities safer,” said Morrison. “This was a truly collaborative effort that I am proud to support.”

It passed the Senate Thursday and heads to the House for further consideration.

HIGHWOOD – The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the health inequities facing communities throughout Illinois. Three organizations in Lake County have been awarded funding to implement health equity strategies, State Senator Julie Morrison announced Wednesday.  

“Prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity in our health care realm became even more vital during the pandemic,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “As chair of the Senate Health Committee, I have seen firsthand the need to close health equity gaps in Illinois. The ARISE program is a great step toward improving the health and well-being in our communities that have long suffered care inequities.”

Activating Relationships in Illinois for Systemic Equity (ARISE) is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services and The Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with Well-Being and Equity (WE) in the World.

LAKE FOREST – State Senator Julie Morrison will host a community forum on PFAS and forever chemicals at 6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 11 at Elawa Farm in Lake Forest.

“Some of our neighbors have expressed an interest in the risk posed by forever chemicals in our water,” said Senator Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “I encourage all to join us for an informative event with experts who are working to provide us with clean water.”

Expert panelists will include Brad Frost and Tesch Woods, Office of Community Relations, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; Aaron Martin, Toxicology Manager, Illinois Department of Public Health; and Iyana Simba, City Programs Director, Illinois Environmental Council.

HIGHWOOD — State Senator Julie Morrison celebrates the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announcement of almost $130,000 in grants for land trusts in Lake County to support land protected by the Illinois Nature Preservation Commission.

“Our nature preserves are a point of pride, and to give them the support they need is vital to maintain their high quality stewardship,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “They serve not only as a way to preserve our environment, but as ways for our children to learn about nature.”

Two area Open Lands Associations have been given grants to support their stewardship efforts. Lake Bluff Open Lands Association will receive nearly $60,000 to hire interns and contractual services to control invasive species, remove undesirable trees, and conduct controlled burns which are vital in preservation at Skokie River Prairie Land and Water Reserve. The Lake Forest Open Lands Association will receive just over $70,000 to purchase equipment, supplies, and contractual assistance to improve natural community structure and diversity at Skokie River Nature Preserve and Middlefork Savanna Nature Preserve.

HIGHLAND PARK – Cooper Roberts went to the Highland Park Fourth of July parade with his family, excited to celebrate the day. However, after a gunman opened fire on the parade – shooting 8-year-old Cooper in the chest – he was left paralyzed from the waist down.

To show Cooper the community supports him and is cheering him on throughout his recovery process, Senator Morrison is collecting store bought and handmade cards that she will then deliver to Cooper’s family.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One week ago, State Senator Julie Morrison and hundreds of Highland Park residents ran for their lives as a gunman opened fire on a 4^th of July parade, killing seven and wounding dozens of others.

“As days have passed, each of us in the community have felt pain. In a town of about 30,000 people, almost everyone knows someone who has been affected,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “No matter where you go in the city, you’re reminded of the tragic loss of life. Our town is now on the map with Buffalo, Uvalde and so many other towns across this nation that have been stricken by heinous gun violence in recent months.”

In the days since, Morrison has worked around the clock to bring more awareness to the state’s Red Flag Law – which she championed in 2018 – and discuss potential legislative action – both federally and at the state level – which she believes will put an end to the gun violence epidemic taking place across the nation. On Monday, Morrison was invited to the White House for a ceremony regarding the signing of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

“In today’s America, just as the nation begins to heal from one attack, another ensues. How much longer can we sit back silently and only offer thoughts and prayers without real, tangible solutions,” Morrison said. “We must work together – both at the national and state level – on a solution to end these vicious attacks.”

HIGHWOOD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after the nation’s top court overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping millions of women across the nation from their right to choose.

“Today’s decision by the nation’s top court is devastating – a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body should be a basic health care standard. By stripping women of that right, women are being told their rights don’t matter – despite it being 2022.