Two local organizations are set to receive over $230,000 in combined literacy grants to grow and enhance their programs, thanks to support from State Senator Cristina Castro.

“Community-based literacy programs provide a safe and enriching opportunity for residents to improve their skills alongside their children,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This funding will build on our work in Illinois to promote literacy, expand access to adult education and strengthen opportunities for lifelong, family-centered learning.”

The latest round of funding from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias includes nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million to support literacy programs throughout the state.

State Senator Cristina Castro announced five school districts across Cook and Kane counties will receive over $26 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“One of the top issues I hear about from suburban families is property taxes,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “That’s why it’s so critical the state keeps good on our promise to continue investing in fully funding our public schools. It’s one of the best ways we can ensure student success without unfairly burdening our local governments and taxpayers.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education students or English language learners, among other factors.

SPRINGFIELD — Easier and more efficient ways for Illinois businesses and diverse contractors to do business with the state are coming soon, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro.

“Navigating the procurement process can be a daunting task for small firms. These are the businesses we should be lifting up – not making their jobs more difficult,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Improving efficiency in government contracting not only helps minority-owned businesses get their foot in the door, but also promotes competition and allows state dollars to go further in supporting these projects.”

To eliminate long-standing obstacles and increase diversity in state contracting, the law – previously House Bill 5511 – takes steps to modernize the procurement process, improve transparency, encourage responsible competition and safeguard taxpayer dollars in infrastructure projects.

Substance use disorder is the leading cause of maternal mortality in Illinois, driving longtime maternal health leader State Senator Cristina Castro to pass a law to proactively address substance use disorders during pregnancy to protect both maternal and infant health.

“Setting up more intervention points along the way for women to seek treatment will help minimize harms and ultimately help get newborns and their mothers the care they need,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “By putting infant and maternal health first, with a strong focus on comprehensive support for the whole family, we can create stronger, healthier communities throughout our state.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the leading cause of pregnancy-related death is substance use disorder, which comprised 32% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018 to 2020. To address this, the Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee recommended the state implement family recovery plans for pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use disorders.