The Center believes that strong advocacy is an essential component of preventing violence. Our advocacy includes being the voice to our policy and decision makers for those who can't, as well as helping communities effectively raise their voices together.  Our advocacy efforts over the years have resulted in many achievements on behalf of building a safer Illinois including:

• created the Illinois Violence Prevention Act of 1995, which funds, coordinates, and oversees violence prevention activities in Illinois;
• created the Illinois After-school Initiative Task Force to study the landscape of Illinois' after-school system and make recommendations for its enhancement;
• increased resources for early childhood education so that children can build the social and emotional skills necessary to succeed;
• increased preschool opportunites for all children in Illinois so they can get off to the right start;
• improved after-school programs through the Illinois After-school Partnership to provide safe places and opportunities for skill development for children and youth during the after-school hours;
• improved systems supporting keeping our seniors safe and in their homes during their later years; and
• supported efforts to reduce child abuse through in-home visiting programs, reduce bullying in schools, and many more prevention strategies for families and communities across Illinois.

The Center is proud to partner with the national Fight Crime: Invest in Kids organization on the Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois project.  Fight Crime brings the voices of law enforcement, crime survivors and prosecutors in support of programs and strategies that reduce and prevent child abuse and youth violence.  To learn more about our Fight Crime project, click here.

The Illinois After-school Alliance, a project of the Center is working to bring sustainable resources to Illinois's after-school system.  Unfortunately, statewide demand for quality after-school opportunities far outpaces the current supply with shortfall estimates between 60 and 70 percent.  Quality after-school programs can provide our children and youth with not only a safe place to go, but also a safe place to grow.  The Alliance is a membership-based statewide coalition of hundreds of after-school programs and advocates.  To learn more or join the Alliance, click here.