Summer 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

As summer settles in across Illinois, our team has been hard at work providing child abuse prevention education throughout the communities we serve. From participating in resource fairs to delivering trainings, our staff remains dedicated to equipping caregivers, parents, professionals, and community members with the knowledge and tools needed to create safe, nurturing environments for children.

This summer has been a hot one! With the warmer weather comes more time outdoors, more activities around water, and more opportunities for connection. It’s a perfect time to remind ourselves of the importance of safety and supervision as children explore, play, and enjoy all that summer has to offer.

This newsletter is full of helpful resources – I encourage you to take a look! Be sure to also check out our upcoming webinars and events, all designed to support families and professionals in their prevention efforts. Thank you for all you do to promote safe, healthy environments where children can thrive. Have a fun and safe summer!

Tarra Winters

Executive Director

Prevent Child Abuse Illinois

PCA Illinois is excited to welcome our new

Director of Communications

and Development, Ash Hamilton!

Ash brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications, with a versatile skill set that spans web best practices, search engine marketing (SEM), graphic design, video production, and email marketing. He has worked extensively in higher education both as a marketing and communications professional and as an instructor.

In addition to his work in higher education, Ash has served as a K–12 educator, where he played a central role in fundraising, event coordination, and advocacy for private schools operating outside of traditional state funding models.

Outside of his professional career, Ash is an independent filmmaker, having directed two feature-length films that have achieved global distribution on major streaming platforms. He resides just outside of Springfield, Illinois, where he enjoys a quiet rural lifestyle with his wife, their 12-year-old son, five indoor cats, and an ever-growing colony of feral cats that help keep the local field mouse population in check.

Welcome to the PCA Illinois team, Ash!

THANK YOU for helping us with our

Community Survey!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our partners and community members who took the time to complete our June Community Survey. Your input is invaluable and helps guide our work to better support children and families across Illinois. We’re excited to share some key takeaways from the survey—highlighted with graphics—to give you a snapshot of what we heard and how it will shape our future efforts. Your voice matters, and we’re grateful you shared it with us!

September is

Baby Safety Month

This September we ask that you join us and celebrate Baby Safety Month , which is championed by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, in partnership with JPMA Cares.

This year, the focus is on empowering parents and caregivers with vital knowledge on the safe selection and utilization of juvenile products, while also inspiring a collective movement of safety ambassadors within our communities. The campaign acts as a guiding light, providing families with the necessary tools and information to cultivate the safest possible environment for their children. By fostering awareness and education, we can work together to establish a culture of safety and well-being, ensuring our little ones thrive in a secure and nurturing atmosphere.

Below are resources to learn more about this important topic:

If you are interested in learning more about baby safety please get in touch with Belinda Farr, bfarr@pcaillinois.org

Water Safety!

July 25th is World Drowning Prevention Day

Summer is here and water safety is top of mind! Drowning remains one of the most urgent and preventable threats to child safety. One of the most persistent misconceptions about drowning is that it is loud and attention-grabbing. In reality, drowning is quick and silent. A child can slip underwater in seconds, and if a caregiver is distracted—reading, talking, or looking at a phone—they may not notice until it’s too late. That’s why close, active supervision is critical anytime children are in or near water.

According to 2017-2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS data:

Unintentional drowning was the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4. For children ages 5-14, drowning was the second leading cause of unintentional death (after motor vehicle crashes).
Approximately 900 children and adolescents ages 0-19 died from unintentional drowning each year. That is an average of 3 drowning deaths per day.

Some key recommendations to prevent drowning from the American Academy of Pediatrics (2020):

Stay within an arm’s reach whenever your baby is near water.
Make sure there is a “water watcher”- an attentive adult paying attention to children in the water.
Immediately drain buckets, baths, and wading pools after each use.
Install a fence around home pools that is at least four feet tall, non-climbable, and has a self-latching, self-closing gate.
On a boat, everyone should be wearing a life jacket.
Swimming lessons for caregivers and children can help prevent drowning. CPR training is also recommended.
Protect your teen by making sure that they:
Never swim alone.
Choose safe places to swim.
Never go in the water after drinking alcohol.

To learn more about water safety, please visit: Drowning Prevention | Children's Safety Network

#GoBlueIllinois Campaign Partners with

Law Enforcement!

This quarter, we’re excited to spotlight a meaningful partnership between PCA Illinois and the Illinois State Police and the Union County Sheriff's Office.

In April, PCA Illinois proudly joined forces with the Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Union County Sheriff's Office for our #GoBlueIllinois campaign, launching a new window decal initiative in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. ISP and Union County officers displayed decals on their squad cars with the message: "April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. All Children Deserve #GreatChildhoods." A total of 100 decals were distributed and proudly showcased by ISP and Union County law enforcement—helping to raise visibility and spark awareness for this important cause.

We are deeply grateful for the Illinois State Police and the Union County Sheriff's Office for their ongoing commitment to prevention and their role in shaping a brighter future for all children. These partnerships not only help raise awareness but also drive meaningful change in our communities. We look forward to continuing this essential work together to create great childhoods for every child!

Our Central Region Prevention Specialist,

Abby Behrens, is a Certified Car Seat Technician!

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death in children by 71%.”

To ensure your child is riding safely, it’s essential to use the right car seat and install it properly. Safe Kids Worldwide offers a comprehensive Ultimate Car Seat Guide that walks you through selecting the best seat for your child, proper installation, achieving the correct fit, and knowing when it’s time to transition to a new seat. You can also find local child passenger safety technician here.

In June, child passenger safety technicians attended a two-day conference where they met with car seat manufacturers to stay up to date on the latest safety standards—so you can feel confident you’re getting the most current information and support.

To learn more about car seat safety, or to schedule a safety check, please contact Abby Behrens, abehrens@pcaillinois.org

Jennifer Samartano

Erin's Law Foundation

Board Member

The mission of the Erin’s Law Foundation is to educate and empower both children and adults in the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse.

A core focus of the foundation is prevention—achieved by offering free, accessible curriculum and resources to schools, community organizations, educators, and parents. These materials are designed to equip communities with the tools needed to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse. The curriculum will be available across all 50 states and internationally and will be translated into multiple languages to ensure global reach and impact.

The new curriculum for Elementary and Middle School will roll out at the end of this summer, just in time for the new school year! The High School curriculum will be available in the fall. For more information about the Erin’s Law Foundation, https://erinslawfoundation.org/

PCA Illinois staff Jennifer Samartano serves on the Erin’s Law Foundation Board and is our Program Coordinator for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention efforts. For more information about the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention trainings of PCA Illinois, please email Jennifer, jsamartano@pcaillinois.org

SAVE THE DATE!

Webinars

August 19^th – 11:30am-1:00pm - Drug Endangered Children Awareness
September 9^th – 11:30am-1:00pm - Drug Endangered Children Approach: Moving from Awareness to Action
September 25^th– 10am-11:45am - Safe Sleep for Babies