SJ0050 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0050 LRB100 18416 MST 33629 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Research indicates that one in three women in the United States experience domestic violence; that means approximately 1.67 million women in Illinois experience domestic violence at least once; and

WHEREAS, During the State of Illinois 2017 fiscal year, 50 agencies funded by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported that services were provided to 41,243 adults who were accompanied by 8,000 children; a total of 61% of those adults seeking services had between one and three accompanying children; 3,122 children were provided overnight shelter; of the children served, 71% were younger than 10 years of age; another 3,670 children were denied shelter along with their accompanying adult because of lack of beds; the 41,243 adults received 358,774 hours of service in counseling, advocacy, support in the courts, and economic self-sufficiency support; and

WHEREAS, A study of low-income preschoolers finds that children who have been exposed to family violence suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, such as bed-wetting or nightmares, and are at greater risk than their peers of having allergies, asthma, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and flu; children of mothers who experience prenatal physical domestic violence are at an increased risk of exhibiting aggressive, anxious, depressed, and hyperactive behavior; females who are exposed to their parents' domestic violence as adolescents are significantly more likely to become victims of dating violence than daughters of nonviolent parents; and

WHEREAS, Children who experience childhood trauma, including witnessing incidents of domestic violence, are at a greater risk of having serious adult health problems including tobacco use, substance abuse, obesity, cancer, heart disease, and depression; they also have a higher risk of having an unintended pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Physical abuse during childhood increases the risk of future victimization among women and the risk of future perpetration of abuse by men more than two-fold; and

WHEREAS, Domestic violence has become a national emergency and state agencies are overwhelmed simply trying to respond to what is happening, which leaves almost no resources or time to work toward prevention; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare domestic violence a public health priority for the State of Illinois and we urge the state to make available all necessary resources to combat this epidemic; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Governor Rauner and all members of the General Assembly.