Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team-MERIT

01/13/2026

🚨 Upcoming Training Opportunity! 🚨

Please consider joining us for the next session of Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training.

Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed program that empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse. One of the most effective ways to protect children is to break the silence and talk openly about abuse prevention.

Our goal is to ensure every adult in Winnebago County has the knowledge and tools to help safeguard one of our most precious resources — our children.

✨ This training is FREE for any adult in Winnebago County, made possible through support from the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board the voter-approved ½-cent sales tax.

📅 Upcoming Training Date:
January 22, 2026 | 12:00–3:15 PM

📍 Location:
ROE4

🔗 Register here:
https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/events/darkness-to-light-stewards-of-children-program-january-22-2026/

Image Description (ADA):
Flyer for the Stewards of Children® training on January 22, 2026, held at the Boone–Winnebago ROE in Loves Park, IL. The flyer includes event details, a QR code for registration, and images of teddy bears, children holding hands, and a young girl pictured from behind. Partner organization logos appear at the bottom.

01/03/2026

Be that hero💙

12/22/2025

Happy winter break everyone! Please enjoy this free resource from our friends at Darkness to Light!

At Darkness to Light, we want to help families make the most of the holidays while keeping kids safe online. That’s why we created our 12 Days of...

12/10/2025

Thank you to Shannon’s amazing momma! She never forgets the children we serve at MERIT 💚❤️

12/09/2025

Last chance to register!
Please consider joining us THIS FRIDAY for the next session of Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training!

Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed program that empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse.

One of the most effective ways to protect children is to break the silence and talk openly about abuse prevention. Our goal is to ensure every adult in Winnebago County has the knowledge and tools to help safeguard one of our most precious resources — our children.

✨ This training is FREE for any adult in Winnebago County, made possible through support from the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and the voter-approved ½-cent sales tax.

📅 Upcoming Training Date:
December 12, 2025 — 9:00 AM to 12:15 PM
📍 ROE4
🔗 https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/events/darkness-to-light-stewards-of-children-program-december-12-2025/

Image Description (ADA):
Flyer for the Stewards of Children® training on December 12, 2025, at the Boone–Winnebago ROE in Loves Park, IL. The flyer includes event details, a QR code, and images of two teddy bears, children’s hands holding each other, and a young girl shown from behind. Partner organization logos appear at the bottom.

11/26/2025

🍂 This season, we’re extra thankful for the amazing donor who purchased items from our clinic’s Amazon Wishlist! Your support means the world to us and the families we serve. Thank you! 🧡

If you’d like to learn more about UIC MERIT or support our work through our Amazon Wishlist, you can find both using the links below:

UIC MERIT Website: https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/depts/academic-clinical/pediatrics/merit/

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UK3QW2MURYYJ?&sort=default

We’re grateful for our community and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. 🦃🧡

Image Description: A table displays donated items including children’s books, sensory toys, a 3D viewer, and a Speak & Spell toy. Decorative yellow flourishes are at the top corners, with “We thank you!” written in yellow script in the bottom left and two white heart doodles in the bottom right.

11/19/2025

Unfortunately, due to low registration, the November 20, 2025 Stewards of Children trainings have been canceled.

Please consider joining us for the next session on December 12, 2025! 💙

Stewards of Children is an evidence-informed training developed by Darkness to Light that empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse.

One effective way to prevent instances of abuse is to break the silence and talk about it! Our goal is to ensure every adult in Winnebago County has the tools to help protect one of our most precious resources — our children.

✨ The training is FREE for any adult in Winnebago County, made possible through support from the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board and the voter-approved ½ cent sales tax.
📅 Upcoming Training Dates:

12/12/25 9 am-12:15 pm @ ROE4: https://rockford.medicine.uic.edu/events/darkness-to-light-stewards-of-children-program-december-12-2025/

ID: Flyer for the Stewards of Children® training on December 12, 2025, at the Boone–Winnebago ROE in Loves Park, IL. Includes event details, a QR code, and photos of two teddy bears, children holding hands, and a young girl from behind. Logos from partnering organizations appear at the bottom.

11/15/2025

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.