Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team-MERIT

11/14/2025

📢 64 Adults Trained—Let’s Keep It Going! Share this post!

Our Stewards of Children® trainings are making a real difference in Winnebago County. Thank you to everyone who has joined us so far!

✨ Haven’t attended yet? Don’t miss this opportunity!
This free, evidence-based training equips adults to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse. Open to all adults in Winnebago County, thanks to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and local residents supporting the half-cent sales tax.

📅 Next Training: Wednesday, November 20, 2025
📍 Location: UIC Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave, Rockford, IL
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

🔗 Register Here: https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/events/darkness-to-light-stewards-of-children-program-nov-20-2025/

✅ 3 CEUs for Social Work, Counseling, MFT, Nursing, and Psychology (thanks to Rosecrance)
✅ PDHs for educators (thanks to Boone-Winnebago ROE)
✅ Certificate of Completion provided

Together, we’re building a safer, stronger community—one training at a time. 💙

11/11/2025

Our favorite Veteran at MERIT is our very own Liz Kroening! Before she dedicated her life to helping others as a social worker, she proudly served our country. Thank you for your service then and now Liz! We appreciate you today and always! ❤️🤍💙

11/07/2025

🍷 Start your weekend with purpose—and a glass of wine!

Enjoy a great evening for a great cause at the First Friday Wine Tasting benefiting the Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team (MERIT) at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford.

We’d love to see you there! Your participation helps UIC MERIT provide expert medical exams and advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Image description (for accessibility):
Flyer for the “First Friday Wine Tasting” benefiting the Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team (MERIT). The event takes place Friday, November 7, 2025, from 5:30–8 p.m. at Artale & Co. in Rockford, Illinois. The flyer includes event details and images of wine corks along the right and bottom edges.

11/04/2025

🎃 What a night!

The UIC MERIT Team had an incredible time last week at the 2025 Rockford Police Department Trunk or Treat! 👻

We connected with an estimated 1,500 children and shared body safety and positive parenting resources with more than 200 families — all while enjoying costumes, candy, and conversations that strengthen our community. 💙

Our pirate-themed trunk was a swashbuckling success — even Hammy from the Rockford IceHogs couldn’t resist walking the plank and making off with our treasure! 🏴‍☠️💰🍬

We’re grateful to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and the local voters whose ½-cent sales tax makes outreach like this possible. Your support helps us reach families and promote child safety across our community year-round.

Image description: Photos show the UIC MERIT Team at the Rockford Police Department’s Trunk or Treat, featuring a pirate-themed display, smiling families, children in costumes, and Rockford IceHogs mascot Hammy walking the plank.

11/04/2025

The UIC MERIT team attended this training today. Highly recommended for everyone!

10/30/2025

10/30/2025

Come see us TONIGHT!

🎃 The UIC MERIT Team is thrilled to join the Rockford Illinois Police Department again this year for the 2025 Trunk or Treat! 👻

We’ll be there with treats, smiles, and educational resources to support children and families. We were honored to receive Best Trunk last year, and we’re hoping for a repeat! 🏆🧡

Our participation is made possible thanks to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and the ½ cent sales tax approved by local voters, helping us connect with families and promote child safety across our community.

We can’t wait to see you there!



Image description:
Colorful Halloween event flyer with the Rockford Police Department Community Engagement logo. Text reads: “Trunk or Treat – Thursday, October 30, 501 7th Street, 6 PM to 8 PM. Candy, Prizes, Music. Don’t forget to wear your costumes!” The design includes a smiling ghost, a pumpkin bucket filled with candy, and a decorated police car trunk labeled “Free.”

10/28/2025

🎃 The Halloween count down is on! 👻 3 more days!!!!!

Wishing everyone a fun and safe night of tricks and treats!
Before you head out, check out these quick safety guides:

🔹 No Tricks, Just Treats: Halloween Safety Tips — National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
👉 https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2025/no-tricks-just-treats-halloween-safety-tips-for-a-fright-free-night

🔹 Safety Isn’t Scary — Darkness to Light on body safety conversations
👉 https://www.d2l.org/safety-isnt-scary-simple-conversations-that-protect-kids/

🔹 Halloween Health & Safety Tips — Illinois Poison Center’s 2025 safety guide
👉 https://ipcblog.org/2013/10/15/halloween-health-safety-tips-how-to-have-a-safe-and-spooky-good-time/

Stay safe and have a spooky good time! 🧡


Image description:
A young child stands on green grass holding a pumpkin-shaped candy bucket. The child wears a black sparkly tutu, orange shirt, and black-and-orange striped tights, with fallen leaves scattered around and soft autumn colors in the background.

10/23/2025

✨ Tomorrow’s the day! ✨

The 2025 MERIT Symposium, “Protecting Innocence: Uncovering Hidden Harms; Strengthening Our Response,” kicks off tomorrow, October 24 at UIC Rockford!

We can’t wait to welcome you for a full day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration with experts dedicated to protecting children and strengthening our community response.

Special thanks to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and county voters for making this event possible through the ½ cent sales tax. Together, we’re creating a safer, more supportive community for children. 💙

Image Description: Flyer for the 2025 MERIT Symposium titled “Protecting Innocence: Uncovering Hidden Harms; Strengthening Our Response,” happening October 24, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UIC Rockford. Features expert speakers on child abuse prevention. Sponsored by the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board. A teddy bear with a blue bandage appears on the right.

10/16/2025

UIC MERIT staff wore purple today for 💜 Although we were too busy to grab a photo, our commitment never wavers.

Domestic violence impacts not just survivors — but children, families, and entire communities. At MERIT, we stand with survivors, always.

Let’s continue to raise awareness, believe survivors, and work together to build a future free from violence.



📸 Image description: A purple background with the words “with survivors, ALWAYS” written in white and blue text, with a small heart outline.

10/15/2025

✨ The countdown is on — the 2025 MERIT Symposium is just over a week away! ✨

We hope you’re getting as excited as we are for a day filled with dynamic speakers, meaningful conversations, and community connection.

⏰ Registration closes October 20 — don’t miss your chance to join us!
🔗 https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/events/merit-symposium-2025/

A heartfelt thank-you to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and county voters for making opportunities like this possible through the ½ cent sales tax. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer community for children.

Image Description: Flyer for the 2025 MERIT Symposium titled “Protecting Innocence: Uncovering Hidden Harms; Strengthening Our Response,” happening October 24, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UIC Rockford. Features expert speakers on child abuse prevention. Sponsored by the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board. A teddy bear with a blue bandage appears on the right.