Welcome

Thank you for visiting my legislative website.  It is always an honor to serve the people of the 16th Legislative District in the Illinois General Assembly. On my website, you can learn more about me and the issues I work hard to address for our community and our state.   Your opinions are important to me, and I urge you to contact my Springfield or Chicago office if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Collins signature new

Senator Jacqueline Collins

State Senator, 16th District

Sen. Collins nominated community jazz group for $2,000 donation from AT&T

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Sen. Jacqueline Collins was honored to participate in AT&T's presentation of a $2,000 check to Live the Spirit Residency, a non-profit organization that hosts the Englewood Jazz Festival, offers music instruction to neighborhood youth and sponsors the Live the Spirit big band. She nominated the organization, which enriches life in Englewood by providing high-quality and accessible jazz programming to the public, for AT&T's Investing in Illinois Award.

Sen. Collins (right) is pictured at the December 26 ceremony with Ernest Dawkins (left), internationally renowned artist and founder of Live the Spirit Residency, and Sam Balark (center) representing AT&T.

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 Law emphasizes education, teacher training as keys to ending sexual abuse of children

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-16th) secured passage today of a measure designed to prevent child sexual abuse by educating elementary school students and training school personnel to respond to signs and reports of abuse. She partnered with former sexual abuse victim Erin Merryn, an Illinois native and Western Illinois University graduate who has advocated for similar laws in other states and in Congress. Glamour Magazine featured Erin as 2012 Woman of the Year for her efforts to help other children avoid or escape the kind of abuse she suffered as a young child.

"Passing Erin's Law gives children in Illinois the voice I never had as a child," Erin Merryn said. "We will finally begin educating children to speak up and tell if someone ever abuses or tries to abuse them. That's a lesson that could have saved me years of molestation and rape."

"Part of making our schools safe places is ensuring students can approach a teacher or staff member and receive accurate information and help when they have been abused," Sen. Collins said. "We know that 93 percent of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a person the victim already knows, so the 'stranger danger' warning children frequently hear is not sufficient protection."

In 2011, Sen. Collins co-sponsored legislation creating the Erin's Law Task Force. The group released a report in June finding that early education is a child's best defense. Currently, Illinois middle and high schools must provide sexual assault and abuse education, but there is no similar requirement for elementary schools. Erin's Law (House Bill 6193) requires schools to provide this instruction in an age-appropriate manner for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students. It also allows teachers to receive professional development credit for training in sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention. The measure has already passed the House and will now go to the governor for his signature.

"Many perpetrators tell their victims they will be punished, not trusted and listened to, if they report the abuse," Sen. Collins said. "Schools are the best vehicle for making sure all children hear this important message and offering a way out so children will no longer suffer in shame and silence as Erin did."

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Governor Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 17th Ward Alderman Latasha Thomas and I joined with business owners to present gifts of clothing, toys, food and educational products to more than 700 underprivileged children from Englewood and Auburn Gresham. This is the seventeenth year the Christmas in Englewood organization has hosted its Toy Giveaway. The gifts were purchased with more than $75,000 in donations from businesses and business owners throughout the Chicago area. The families of Englewood and I are grateful for the generous involvement of these community members, and I'm glad the governor and mayor came to help us spread hope and opportunity to our neighbors in need this season.

 

This holiday season I teamed up with Johnson Publishing Company, Terry Peterson, the Faith Community of Saint Sabina, WVON, the Chicago Urban League and BJ's Market and Bakery to provide free dinners to members of our community who needed a hot meal. All were welcome — families, children, adults and the elderly. Dinner was served at BJ's Market and Bakery at 79th and Racine.

 

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Contact Info

 Chicago Office:

1155 W. 79th St.

Chicago, IL 60620

(773) 224-2830

 

Springfield Office:

M114 Capitol

Springfield, Il 62706

(217) 782-1607

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