Turner: Teachers’ mental health is important too

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure to improve teachers’ awareness of mental health resources.

“Teachers’ mental health is important too,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We have to ensure everyone knows there is help out there.”

House Bill 3000 would require all school districts serving students in grades 6-12 to have the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and the Safe2Help Illinois helpline on all employee IDs.

Turner’s measure builds on a 2021 law expanding suicide and crisis helpline awareness in schools by ensuring all employees in school districts have this information on their ID cards. Currently, this information is required to be in student handbooks or planners and on student IDs if schools issue them.

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Turner secures nearly $2 million for CAP 1908 business incubator

SPRINGFIELD – The CAP 1908 Innovation Center is set to receive nearly $2 million, thanks to strong support from State Senator Doris Turner.

“Springfield has a rich history that deserves to be shared,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Continued investments in our downtown bring jobs, opportunity and joy to our community. CAP 1908 has done a phenomenal job boosting small businesses that will have a lasting effect on our neighborhoods.”

Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program provides grants for construction, repair and modernization of public infrastructure and amenities to boost jobs, improve quality of life and stimulate economic activity for communities that have experienced historic disinvestment.

The Springfield Project’s CAP 1908 Innovation Center will receive nearly $2 million to support operations as a business incubator and accelerator, offering a co-working space and wide range of small business and organization programming on Springfield’s east side.

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Five Central Illinois school libraries receive funding thanks to Turner

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner secured more than $17,000 in grants to provide resources for five public school libraries in Central Illinois.

“Ensuring school libraries are equipped with fundamental resources allows students to expand their knowledge and interests,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “When we invest in our schools, we invest in our students.”

More than $1.3 million was awarded to 2,484 Illinois public school libraries through the Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program. Resources and services supported through the grant include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

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Turner secures $990,000 in job training funding

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner secured nearly $1 million to help build pathways to good-paying jobs in the construction and building trades in Central Illinois.

“Investing in the trades gives students a path to secure stable, good-paying careers in a high-demand industry,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Here in Springfield, District 186 has worked with SkillsUSA to create a construction trades education hub at Lanphier for students across the district to get hands-on learning in the industry.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $19 million in grant funding through the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program to 38 organizations across the state. The purpose of the funding is to create more pathways for kids to access pre-apprenticeship programs and registered apprenticeships, which provide greater opportunities to secure lifelong careers in the construction trades.

In Turner’s district, Menard-Sangamon Regional Office of Education #51 will see a total of $440,000 and Illinois Foundation of SkillsUSA in Sangamon and Christian Counties will receive $550,000 to support pre-apprenticeship students.

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