IL SB0016

Establishes a Children's Adversity Index by May 31, 2025 to measure childhood trauma exposure across Illinois communities for children ages 3-18, including data on homelessness, child welfare contact, and household instability.

Requires teacher institutes starting in the 2024-2025 school year to provide instruction on trauma-informed practices and include definitions of trauma, trauma-responsive learning environments, and whole child approaches.

Mandates school board members complete training on trauma-informed practices beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, covering trauma recognition, staff wellness, prevalence among student populations, and effective district practices.

Creates a Professional Educator Licensure Review Committee to recommend changes to teacher licensure requirements to include demonstrated proficiency in adverse childhood experiences, trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and trauma-responsive learning by October 1, 2024.

Reestablishes the Whole Child Task Force to develop definitions of trauma-responsive schools and districts, outline required training and resources, analyze provider organizations, recommend key data collection metrics, and establish implementation timelines for system-wide trauma responsiveness.