DEERFIELD — As State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) and her colleagues returned to Springfield Wednesday, she has vowed to fight for human services funding in the Fiscal Year ’21 budget, especially for the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Many agencies that are tasked with helping and protecting our state’s most vulnerable populations already struggle with too few resources,” Morrison said. “Illinois should be a leader in showing all people are valuable and deserve to be treated with human dignity.”

Morrison is chair of the Illinois Senate Human Services Committee, where she fights for the beneficiaries of a number of human services agencies, most notably DCFS.

DCFS workers are in capacities that could expose them to COVID-19, causing them to need more protective gear, like masks, gloves and other PPE. Those on the frontlines for the agency have also expressed desires to reduce face-to-face interactions withclients as much as possible. With this, however, comes a need for technology.

“High-profile failures at DCFS have come in part from the agency not receiving priority in funding,” Morrison said. “As members of the General Assembly, we should push for continued funding for DCFS and other human services organizations so they can help the most vulnerable among us, especially abused and neglected children.”

Additionally, Morrison has been a steadfast ally and supporter of the developmental and intellectual disabilities communities and pushes for funding to support autism services, sexual assault programs and mental health supportive housing.