CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Joyce and 1 co-sponsor

The bill designates April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Illinois and urges statewide awareness and action to promote safe, stable, nurturing environments for children.

Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters

Summary of SR0724 (104th General Assembly) – Illinois

Purpose and intent

Proclaims April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the State of Illinois.

Emphasizes the importance of preventing child abuse as the best defense for protecting children and supporting healthy families.

Encourages Illinoisans to recognize the month and commit to actions that improve the quality of life for children and families.

Key provisions and changes

Formal resolution recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Urges statewide awareness and participation in activities and programs that promote the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children in safe, stable, and nurturing environments.

Highlights the role of prevention and the value of partnerships among child welfare professionals, educators, health professionals, community members, faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement, and families in reducing risk factors for child abuse.

Who or what is affected

Geographic scope: State of Illinois.

Audiences targeted by the resolution include:

General public and Illinois residents.
Organizations and institutions involved in child welfare, education, health, community services, and law enforcement.
Faith-based and community organizations, businesses, and families.

The bill does not establish new programs or funding mechanisms; rather, it seeks awareness and collective action during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The resolution designates a specific month (April 2026) for a statewide recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

It serves as a call to action for state residents and partner organizations to focus on prevention efforts throughout the designated month and beyond.

Sponsorship: Co-sponsors Patrick Joyce and Robert Peters.

Additional context (from the text)

The resolution references broader concerns about child abuse and its long-term effects, the existence of approximately four million nationwide reports to child protective services in a federal fiscal year, and the importance of protective factors and cross-system partnerships in prevention.

While it mentions La Rabida Children's Advocacy Center as part of the broader community context, the resolution does not create new programs or authorize expenditures.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a one-page brief with a plain-language summary for public distribution or tailor it for a Legislative Affairs layout.