On Jan. 30, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton officially launched the Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force (HCITF), marking a significant step towards addressing trauma and promoting healing within communities across Illinois.
The launch event at Governors State University preceded the task force’s first official meeting.
Initiated through a 2020 bill in the state Senate, the HCITF aims to bring together community members to work toward positive outcomes for individuals who have experienced trauma.
“Gov. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 646 into law on Aug. 11, 2020,” Stratton said. “With that signature, he created the Illinois Healing-Center Task Force and further empowered our work to make it a little bit wiser, more trauma-informed, healing-centered state.”
The formation of the HCITF represents a crucial effort by the state to acknowledge and address the impacts of trauma, which often spans generations and is exacerbated by systemic issues. Stratton, who shared her connection to trauma at the event, emphasized the task force’s mission to make Illinois a leader in trauma-informed and healing-centered practices.
The HCITF seeks to coordinate ongoing initiatives, assess the effects of intergenerational trauma, and develop preventative strategies and resources to foster community engagement. By incorporating trauma-informed and healing-centered principles into the policy-making process, the task force aims to transform the approach to healing and support across the state.
“We are investing in Illinois public safety and in the long-term health of our communities,” Stratton said. “I’m honored to serve as chair of the Illinois Healing Center Task Force, and I am eager to dig in.”
Following Stratton’s remarks, a panel of speakers shared their personal experiences and the critical importance of the HCITF’s work. These testimonies underscored the task force’s potential to bring about meaningful change and support for trauma survivors.
Additional information is available on the Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force webpage. A video of the event is available on the Governors State YouTube channel.