NAPERVILLE – Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is      encouraging parents and teachers to encourage their students to learn more about the environment and get creative from the safety    of their homes through the Illinois Environmental Protection      Agency’s Poster, Poetry and Prose Contest.

“Teachers and students have experienced a multitude of sacrifices this year – but teachers have stepped up to make sure their      students still receive a quality education, Ellman said. “These new virtual resources are a great way for students to learn more about the environment and climate change from the safety of their      home.”

Senator Ellman is encouraging fifth and sixth grade students to      take part in the Illinois EPA’s is Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest. The theme of 2021 will focus on how food waste diversion options    affects the environment, including climate change, and why it is important to choose environmentally friendly options.

Educators, parents and caregivers are asked to introduce these topics to students using the Illinois EPA’s free, online curriculum titled “Environmental Pathways: Where does my food go?” Students are asked to create posters or written works related to the theme’s focus. 

Entries must be submitted to the Illinois EPA by Feb. 1, 2021. The winners will be announced via email in April. For additional information, visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/education/contest/Pages/default.aspx. 

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is congratulating the DuPage Children's Museum and the Naperville Heritage Society for receiving nearly $1 million in combined grants    to improve their facilities and develop new exhibits.

“Part of being an Illinoisan is understanding where our history      began and where it’s going and as Illinoisan we’re always looking toward the future,” Ellman said. “Both of these organization are reaching out to people where they are creating a framework on how to move forward. They’re recognizing the needs of the community and are creatively meeting those needs while also moving us forward.”

The Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources through the state’s multi-year capital program, is open to any museum operated by local government or located on municipally-owned land. The maximum grant award for the projects announced Wednesday was $750,000 and matching funds are required in many cases based on museum attendance levels.

“The Children’s Museum and the Heritage Society attract thousands of visitors each year,” Ellman said. “This program is investing in the 21st district, which in return creates new economic growth in our community.”

More information on the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program is available on the IDNR website at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/grants/Pages/Museum-Capital-Grants.aspx.

NAPERVILLE – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, another crisis continues to take a toll on people across the nation – domestic violence. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, State Senator Laura Ellman is highlighting state and local resources to make sure Illinois residents are aware that there is assistance available.

“Unfortunately, domestic violence is a reality in all of our communities, and it doesn’t discriminate. It affects all classes, genders and races,” Ellman said. “No one should feel unsafe in their own home, but if you do, there are resources available to help.”

According to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in 2019, there were over 45,000 adult survivors in the state of Illinois and nearly 9,000 children who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence. While safe shelter is crucial to a survivor’s safety, only about 11% of adult survivors served by domestic violence agencies last year received emergency shelter or transitional housing.

The pandemic has caused domestic partners and families to live in close proximately for longer periods of time. If domestic violence is already a problem in a relationship, the stress of this public health crisis may be making it worse and allowing an abusive person to exercise more control over a companion or child.  

"During these difficult times when Illinoisans are expected to limit their time outside of their homes, too many don’t have a safe home to stay in,” Ellman said. “Unfortunately, the rate of domestic violence has gone up since COVID-19 began to affect our daily lives.”

The following available resources include confidential support, multilingual advocates, and survivor-centered services:

• DuPage County Community Resource Information System

• The City of Naperville Domestic Violence Resources

• Will County Take Back the Night

• Center for Prevention of Abuse at 800-559-SAFE (800-559-7233)

• Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at 877-TO END DV (877-863-6338)

• Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for help 24/7 with any kind of crisis

Additionally, residents can find local shelters and assistance from domestic shelters at www.domesticshelters.org.

NAPERVILLE – After months of discussion, negotiation and development of a plan to support sexual assault survivors, State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is pleased to see the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services has unveiled a sexual assault evidence tracking system to allow survivors to track the status of their medical forensic exams, also sometimes called      “rape kits.”

“Survivors have been forced to live day in and day out without any knowledge on the progress of testing their kits,” Ellman said.            “I hope this new tracking system helps them feel more control           over the progress of their cases.”   

Through ISP’s new tracking system, survivors of sexual assault will be able to monitor the status of the evidence in their case, from collection at the hospital, through law enforcement pick-up and submission to the forensic lab, and ultimately to the State's Attorney's office, where final results will be received. The system, called CheckPoint, can only be accessed by unique case numbers and passwords to ensure privacy of survivors.  

“The CheckPoint system will allow survivors to have real-time information about their evidence while protecting their privacy,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This point-by-point knowledge of the location of their evidence will help to empower survivors and foster public trust in the system. ISP DFS personnel remain committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault through transparency and accountability.”  

]Currently, any survivor of sexual assault who seeks a forensic medical exam at a health care facility that has implemented the CheckPoint system is able to track the progress of their evidence in the system.

In 2018, the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission recommended the tracking system in its final report. The report can be found here.