Illinois Center for Violence Prevention

Fight Crime: Invest In Kids

The Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois Executive Committee kicked off the 2005 year with its annual meeting in December, approving the 2005 Policy Priorities and discussing the upcoming legislative session.

The Executive Committee is a small group of long-time members who serve in an advisory capacity to Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois staff and members. New to the Executive Committee this year are: Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline, Winnebago County State’s Attorney Paul Logli, Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy, Mundelein Chief Ray Rose, Clay County Sheriff Lee Ryker, and Marion County Sheriff Brad Wolenhaupt. Other members of the Executive Committee are Carole Grant Hall, a Chicago Crime Survivor, St. Clair County State’s Attorney Bob Haida, East Dundee Chief Joe Pena, Kendall County Sheriff Richard Randall, Cook County State’s Attorney Richard Devine, Rantoul Chief Paul Dollins, Chicago FOP President Mark Donahue, Champaign Chief R. T. Finney, Northfield Crime Survivor Bill Jenkins, Algonquin Chief Russ Laine, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Orland Park Chief Tim McCarthy, Palos Park Chief Joe Miller, Elmhurst Chief Steve Neubauer, and Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson.

The Executive Committee approved policy priorities that expand pre-kindergarten, after-school and youth mental health funding. Top of the policy priorities this year is the final $30 million increase to the state pre-kindergarten program pledged by Governor Rod Blagojevich. This increase will allow the state to serve an additional 8,200 at-risk 3-and 4-year-olds and bring the total number served by the states pre-kindergarten program to 75,000.

Also, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois is supporting the budget request of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership, with a strong emphasis on programs that research has shown work to prevent crime. Research has shown that young people with untreated mental health needs are more likely to get into trouble and jeopardize public safety. Included in the budget ask is $6 million for school-based activities and $10 million for early intervention and treatment.

Finally, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois supports a $2 million increase to the Redeploy Illinois project, a promising strategy of funding for counties to divert nonviolent, first-time juvenile offenders from the prison system and into community-based programs where they can access services that reduce repeat crime activity and save money in the long term.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois will be calling on members to write letters, meet with legislators and work with their local media to promote this crime fighting agenda.

Major Grant Supports New Mental Health Initiative

In December, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois was awarded a two-year $170,000 grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation for a new initiative to protect and expand access and resources for effective mental health services for Illinois at-risk youth.

Youth with untreated or inadequately treated mental health problems are at greater risk of engaging in antisocial, violent and criminal behavior. One estimate is nearly 70 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system have mental health problems. The good news is that there are many innovative, evidence-based approached proven to improve the health and development of youth with mental health problem, reduce crime and save money.

This major new initiative will include a statewide education campaign with members, policy-makers and the public; policy analysis and distribution of reports and briefs; partnership work with law enforcement and other organizations; and a media campaign about the crime prevention and cost savings of increased investments in children’s mental health.