Advance Illinois Statement on ISBE’s Release of The Children’s Adversity Index
Today, we applaud the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) release of the Children’s Adversity Index. We hope and expect the tool will positively impact general awareness of mental health issues present in every corner of the state, and inform the level and quality of support communities, districts, and the state provide students.
“The Adversity Index enables Illinois to better, more thoroughly understand and support the mental health and well-being of Illinois children and students,” said Advance Illinois President Robin Steans. “Whether that’s through more state investments, targeted healthcare services, or greater amplification of community experiences, this tool will help leaders see data on a variety of related factors all in one place and inform decisions that help students thrive.”
Passed into law in 2023 (P.A. 103-0413) and informed by findings from the Whole Child Task Force, the Children’s Adversity Index is research-driven and uses data from across a range of domains, including healthcare access, education access, economic conditions, and family and community stability. Considered together, these factors create unprecedented, useful, and transparent windows of insight into community well-being across Illinois.
Traumatic childhood experiences – often called Adverse Childhood Experiences – do not just happen in isolation, but impact and are impacted by the communities in which they occur.
A wealth of research shows the impact trauma has on students’ ability to focus, learn and achieve. The environmental view this Index provides offers the public and leaders at the district and state level critical insights into what resources and supports are needed to ensure every Illinois student’s needs are met. Importantly, the Index underscores that children in every region of the state are affected by trauma, and we need a statewide and systemic approach.
ISBE’s release of the Children’s Adversity Index marks an important step in the state’s ongoing efforts to respond to childhood trauma through schools, where studies show students are most likely to access mental health support and social emotional learning.
The release of the Children’s Adversity Index, while years in the making, could not come at a more critical time. Students and communities continue to grapple with the aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic, including on mental health. The Index makes clear that our children need trauma-informed and –responsive resources in every school. At the same time, the Department of Education recently announced that it would end $1billion in grants for mental health services for children, removing critical resources despite ongoing need.
“Now that we have such important ground-level information, it is up to us to put it to good use – by paying attention and responding to the issues this index illuminates,” Steans said.
We celebrate the state’s continued progress in ensuring every district has what it needs to holistically support student well-being; this new Index underscores how urgent this work continues to be.
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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent bipartisan policy and advocacy nonprofit organization working toward a healthy public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career, and civic life.