The SDF Family Law Center partnered with the Illinois State Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Women & the Law in hosting a second seminar on how to help girls combat human trafficking, abuse and neglect, and the juvenile justice system within Illinois. Attendees learned about the roles played by different entities within the child welfare and juvenile justice system; the unique problems facing girls within these systems; how to improve these systems in an effort to better protect the interests of girls; the challenges facing society in combating human trafficking; how to help victims of human trafficking and the services available; and what we can do moving forward to help girls in crisis. The esteemed panelists and moderators included the
Honorable Virginia M. Kendall (U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois),
Laura Ng (Director of Traffick Free),
Sarah Frazer (Selah Freedom),
Heather Miller (American Indian Center of Chicago),
Prof. Allison Ortlieb (DePaul University College of Law),
Victoria Davis-Jones (Illinois Department of Children & Family Services),
Prof. Joanna Wells (Southern Illinois University School of Law),
Nicholas Youngblood (Office of the Cook County Public Guardian),
Hon. Stuart P. Katz (Ret.) (Circuit Court of Cook County),
Jeannene Frazier (Office of the Public Defender),
Lily Gleicher (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority),
Bridget Schott (Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office),
Lori Levin,
Kelly Bennett, and
Kathryn Liss.