Illinois § 45.1

§ 45.1.

Department of Children and Family Services human trafficking unit. (a) The Department of Children and Family Services shall: (1) maintain a human trafficking unit to coordinate services, initiate prevention efforts, and provide access to resources for case-management staff to serve youth in care who have been determined to be victims of human trafficking or assessed to be at high risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking, as well as ensure a timely response by the Department to recover youth in care in the custody of law enforcement or in the care of a Department of Humans Services Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) service provider; (2) ensure that all youth in care are screened during the initial integrated assessment to identify those who may be at high risk of trafficking, based on experiences of commercial sexual exploitation and other indicators of human trafficking, and ensure that those identified are screened for and, as relevant, provided with specialized services; (3) collaborate with the Department of Human Services and other State agencies to develop screening and follow-up protocols to respond to children and adolescents who may be victims of human trafficking or at risk of human trafficking regardless of immigration or legal status; (4) require victim-centered, trauma-informed human trafficking training for Department employees and contractors providing specialized services to children and youth who are victims of human trafficking or at risk of human trafficking including caseworkers, investigators, foster parents, and residential home personnel; (5) require that all alleged child victims of human trafficking be referred to the local child advocacy center to coordinate and facilitate a multi-disciplinary response; (6) increase trauma-informed placement options for youth in care, who have been determined to be victims of human trafficking or assessed to be at high risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking; and (7) on or before July 1, 2026, incorporate services for all child human trafficking victims into the community-based services provided by the Department. (b) Definitions. In this Section: "Child or children" has the same meaning as a minor and refers to persons under the age of 18. "Human trafficking" means a violation or attempted violation of Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012. "Human trafficking" includes trafficking of children and adults for both labor and sex services. "Specialized services" means services for youth in care determined to be victims of human trafficking, those assessed as high risk for trafficking, or those with a history of sexual exploitation, and may include the following: treatment for substance use, mental health needs, medical treatment, case management, or housing. (Source: P.A. 104-159, eff. 1-1-26.)