Welcome to Senator Cristina Castro legislative website

Castro leads charge to deliver critical care for newborns

SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a measure that would develop a program to increase care for newborns.

“The postpartum period is a critical phase of newborns’ well-being,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Delivering needed care in that time period will ensure their health is not compromised.”

Over three decades, Illinois has recognized the importance of home visiting programs and their impact on new families. The current statewide home visiting system serves 17,000 Illinois families, remaining a cornerstone of early childhood development in the state.

Castro is leading House Bill 4606 to continue to build on that legacy. The measure would authorize the Illinois Department of Human Services to develop and oversee a statewide, voluntary, no-cost newborn home visiting program by establishing evidence-based service models, coordinating funding and data efforts, and collaborating with stakeholders to expand support for newborns and their families.

Home visiting programs are comprehensive initiatives that ensure new families and their infant children are connected with community resources, early childhood services, family supports and follow-up health care.

“The challenge of being a mother is enough on its own,” said Castro. “Having a community of support and resources available enables new parents and their children to live happy and healthy lives.”

House Bill 4606 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

Castro to host Mobile DMV for residents

Hoffman Estates — State Senator Cristina Castro invites residents to a Mobile DMV event in Hoffman Estates to give area residents the chance to access vehicle services at a location in the community without the wait time or commute often associated with visiting a regular facility.

“Access to a driver services facility will just be around the corner,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “No matter if you’re accessing services for your vehicle registration and license plate stickers or driver’s license, we want to make the process as easy as possible.”

The event will be held at Schaumburg Township, located at 1 Illinois Blvd., on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The unit operates like a driver services facility and offers driver’s license and state ID renewals, REAL ID processing, vehicle registration stickers and more. Certain services will require documentation and applicable fees, which can be found at www.ilsos.gov.

Space is limited and appointments are required as walk-ins are not guaranteed service. Residents can RSVP by calling Castro’s office at 847-214-8864.

Castro emite declaración sobre las acusaciones contra César Chávez

ELGIN — La senadora estatal Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) emitió la siguiente declaración el viernes en respuesta a las acusaciones recientemente publicadas sobre abusos sexuales y conducta inapropiada por parte del ya fallecido César Chávez.

“Es muy triste que Dolores Huerta y otras mujeres que vivieron lo mismo hayan tenido que soportar durante décadas el peso de abusos que sufrieron y se hayan visto obligadas a guardar silencio al respecto, debido al estigma que existe en nuestra cultura por alzar la voz.

“El hecho de que sean capaces de resistir el estigma y expresar el dolor que han sufrido demuestra la valentía y la fortaleza de estas mujeres; una acción profundamente vulnerable por la que les felicito.

“Haber conocido a Dolores Huerta ha sido un honor y un privilegio. Haber podido escuchar sus historias personales y sus propias luchas dentro del movimiento de los trabajadores agrícolas ha tenido una gran influencia en mi vida. Es precisamente al conocer sus historias por lo que el comportamiento descrito sobre Chávez resulta especialmente indigno e inaceptable.

“Debemos dejar algo claro: esto no debe manchar el arduo trabajo y el esfuerzo que los trabajadores agrícolas han dedicado durante décadas en nombre de este movimiento. Dolores Huerta y los trabajadores que lideraban el movimiento por la justicia para los trabajadores agrícolas comprendieron que esto solo podría lograrse si se basaba en los valores que destacan las fortalezas de la comunidad latina: la resiliencia, la compasión, el respeto y la integridad.

“Me solidarizo con Dolores Huerta y con todas las víctimas de las presuntas acciones cometidas por César Chávez. Espero que el hecho de que ellas cuenten su verdad anime a otras personas a hacer lo mismo."

Castro issues statement on Cesar Chavez allegations

ELGIN — State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement Friday in response to newly published allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct by the late Cesar Chavez.

“It is tragic that Dolores Huerta and other survivors carried the weight of this abuse done to them for decades and were forced to keep silent on this issue, given the stigma of speaking up in our culture.

“Being able to push back against the stigma and voice the pain they have gone through speaks to the courage and bravery of these women – a deeply vulnerable action that I commend them for.

“Getting to know Dolores Huerta has been an honor and privilege. Being able to hear stories about her own personal life and her own struggles with the farmworker movement has been influential in my own life. It is in knowing her stories that makes the behavior described about Chavez especially reprehensible and unconscionable.

“We must make one thing clear: this should not tarnish the hard work and effort given by farmworkers for decades in the name of this movement. Dolores Huerta and the workers leading the movement for farmworker justice understood that it could only happen if it was rooted in the values that highlight the strengths of the Latino community – that of resilience, compassion, respect and integrity.

“I stand in solidarity with Dolores Huerta and all survivors of the alleged actions taken by Cesar Chavez. I  hope that by them speaking their truth, others are encouraged to do the same.