South Cook News

State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) introduced S.B. 2177, which has now been advanced, banning plastic bags, trash bags, pillowcases and other similar containers from being used by the Department of Children and Family Services for children to place their belongings in. 

Without the proper containers for moving their belongings, some children are unable to bring their possessions with them when they are being relocated.

"Some of these children are forced to leave behind toys and other keepsakes because they simply do not have enough storage space for their belongings. And what do you think that says to a child when they can’t get a stuffed animal or family photo into a trash bag?" Sims wrote in a Facebook post. "This measure simply removes one of the challenges these children face within the DCFS system that seems small but is really about not being cruel."

Sims believes that the use of such disposable containers creates a negative connotation about the value of the children’s items at a time in their life when they are already under a great deal of stress and lacking stability. 

The legislation came after the realization that there were no restrictions or requirements about the type of container that children be given during relocation processes.

This initiative has been headed up by the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and has passed the Senate Health Committee, It now moves to the full Senate.