AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF ILLINOIS

LEGISLATIVE: INITIATIVES FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDED AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE TRAUMA OF FAMILY SEPARATION AND IMPROVE YOUTH OUTCOMES BY REDUCING BARRIERS TO RELATIVE PLACEMENTS WHEN YOUTH COME UNDER THE CARE OF THE DCFS SYSTEM. THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES COURT OVERSIGHT TO FIND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAN TAKE YOUTH INTO CARE - IF THEY MUST BE SEPARATED FROM BIRTH PARENTS - AND ESTABLISHES A KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS. THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW AND WE ARE NOW MONITORING ITS IMPLEMENTATION. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR ADVOCACY TO PROTECT HEALTH DATA PRIVACY. ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATION DID NOT MOVE THIS SESSION, WE SUCCESSFULLY WON COMMITMENTS FROM LEGISLATORS TO WORK ON LEGISLATION THAT WILL ASSURE THAT OUR PERSONAL HEALTH DATA IS PROTECTED WHEN IT IS COLLECTED BY THIRD PARTIES. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED A MEASURE THAT MAKES AN IMPORTANT REFORM TO ILLINOIS LAW THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY AND DAMAGE OF SO-CALLED STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (SLAPP). THE NEW LAW ENSURES THAT MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA CAN USE THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY AND HARASSING ACTIONS AGAINST THEM. AND WE WORKED TIRELESSLY IN A COALITION TO ENCOURAGE ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS TO PASS A MEASURE THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN ILLINOIS, ALLOWING MENTALLY COMPETENT, ADULT ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OF SIX MONTHS OR LESS TO OBTAIN A PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICINE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DIE PEACEFULLY IN THEIR SLEEP. THE ACLU ALSO SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT EXPANDED ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES IN ILLINOIS, A MEASURE THAT PROHIBITS LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM SHARING DATA FROM AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS WITH FEDERAL OR OUT OF STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING SOMEONE WHO CAME TO ILLINOIS TO SEEK LAWFUL HEALTH CARE, AND A MEASURE THAT ALLOWS DOCTORS IN ILLINOIS TO CONTINUE TO ACCESS MEDICATION NO LONGER APPROVED BY THE FDA IF THAT MEDICATION CONTINUES TO BE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

COMMUNICATIONS: THE COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES OF THE ACLU OF ILLINOIS ARE DESIGNED TO: KEEP OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS UPDATED ON THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION; BROADLY INFORM AND ADVANCE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR WORK AND ISSUES OF CONCERN (CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES) IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND TARGET MESSAGES THAT MAY MOVE OPINION LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF OUR WORK. WE UTILIZE AN ARRAY OF COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, FROM PUBLIC SPEAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, OTHER WRITTEN MESSAGES, AND PODCASTS. THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MESSAGES THAT REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS DURING THE YEAR REGARDING THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION.