Were You Abused at Aunt Martha's Integrated Care Center in Chicago?
If you were placed at Aunt Martha's ICC through DCFS, foster care, court supervision, or a residential youth program, you may have legal rights. Our consultations are free, confidential, and trauma-informed — and contacting us does not mean going public.
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Why This Matters Now (June 2026)
According to the Chicago Tribune, a former resident filed a civil lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court in late May 2026 alleging that Aunt Martha's Health and Wellness and its security contractor, A-Alert Security Services, failed to protect her from repeated sexual abuse and grooming while she was a minor resident in early 2024.1 These civil allegations have not been proven in court. An attorney for Aunt Martha's declined to comment on the pending litigation, and the Tribune reported that efforts to reach A-Alert representatives were unsuccessful.1
A Former Manager Has Been Convicted
In March 2026, a Cook County jury convicted former Aunt Martha's manager Trulon Henry of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; multiple youths placed at the center reported being groomed and sexually abused while living there.2 Through his attorney, Henry has filed a motion for a new trial, which remains pending.2,1 Court records show Henry worked at the facility from January 2023 to April 2024, and five children ages 12 to 17 disclosed grooming and sexual abuse.2 Reporting indicates Henry — a former University of Illinois football player — had a prior armed-robbery conviction and federal prison time before he was hired.3,4,5
Oversight Failures
DCFS reportedly began investigating allegations at the center in August 2023 but did not stop sending children there until May 2024, when it imposed 24-hour on-site monitoring shortly before closure.8,4 DCFS logged 3,850 "unusual incident" reports — filed when residents were physically aggressive toward peers or staff — over the center's roughly five and a half years of operation.4,5 After the closure, records show a longtime DCFS official sought to have child-protection plans backdated during an inspector-general investigation — later described by officials as a "misstep."4
Illinois lawmakers filed Senate Resolution 1229 calling for an independent Auditor General review of DCFS's handling of contracts and oversight related to Aunt Martha's and A-Alert.9,8
About Aunt Martha's Integrated Care Center
Aunt Martha's Integrated Care Center was a DCFS-contracted foster-care and residential placement facility for youth. It was not a juvenile detention center. Young people were placed there through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, foster care, court supervision, or other residential youth programs.
The facility, located on Chicago's South Side, closed its doors in June 2024.
Who Can File a Claim
If you or a loved one was abused while placed at Aunt Martha's Integrated Care Center, you may be able to pursue a civil claim. Illinois law gives many survivors of childhood sexual abuse extended time to come forward. Contact us for a free, confidential review.
- You were placed at Aunt Martha's ICC through DCFS, foster care, or court supervision
- You were under 18 — or otherwise a vulnerable youth — during your placement
- You were abused or groomed by staff, security personnel, or another resident
- You're unsure about the exact dates — that's okay
- You never reported what happened — that's okay
- You do not need a police report to speak with us
Time Limits for Illinois Abuse Claims
Many childhood sexual-abuse claims in Illinois may be brought at any time — but there is no single deadline that applies to everyone. Whether a claim can still be filed depends on the survivor's age, the dates of the abuse, when the harm was discovered, and whether any earlier time-bar applies. Related negligence claims, or claims that involve a state agency, can carry strict and fast-approaching deadlines. Because of this, it is important to speak with an attorney promptly so your options can be reviewed before any deadline passes.
How We Help
Free Confidential Consultation
Share your story in a safe, judgment-free conversation. Your privacy is protected.
Investigation and Evidence Building
Our team gathers records, identifies witnesses, and builds a comprehensive case.
Negotiation or Filing the Lawsuit
We pursue maximum compensation through settlement or aggressive litigation.
No Fees Unless We Win
You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
Your first conversation is with a trauma-trained intake specialist — and you may request to speak with a female specialist.
Why Slater Slater Schulman
We bring national institutional-abuse experience to Illinois foster-care and DCFS accountability — holding large institutions responsible for the youth in their care.
Who We Are
Slater Slater Schulman LLP is a prominent full-service law firm with over 40 years of experience representing survivors of catastrophic and traumatic events, including litigating against the Boy Scouts, clergy, medical professionals, and members of the justice system.
The attorneys at Slater Slater Schulman LLP take a personal approach to representation. We are here to ensure that survivors have the opportunity to confront their past with the full support of our large legal team.
We are honored to have represented more than 3,500 survivors in the historic $4 billion settlement with Los Angeles County—the largest of its kind in history.
We secure results for survivors of institutional abuse without forcing them into the media spotlight — confidential, private representation with the resources to fight large institutions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by the team at Slater Slater Schulman LLP · Last reviewed June 12, 2026
Sources
Every factual claim on this page is cited to the listed source. Links open the original document; access dates reflect our most recent verification.
- 1.'House of horrors': Chicago woman alleges rampant abuse overlooked at South Side foster facility in lawsuit — Chicago Tribune, June 2, 2026 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 2.CBS News Chicago Investigators report on the Trulon Henry conviction (updated April 1, 2026) — CBS News Chicago, April 1, 2026 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 3.WGN-TV report: former Illini football player charged with sex crimes against children in DCFS program — WGN-TV, July 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 4.Injustice Watch investigation of Aunt Martha's Integrated Care Center, foster care and DCFS oversight — Injustice Watch, September 20, 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 5.Chicago Sun-Times co-publication of the Injustice Watch investigation — Chicago Sun-Times, September 20, 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026)Corroborating co-publication of the Injustice Watch investigation. ↩
- 6.WGN-TV report: security guard charged after alleged sexual abuse of teen girl at Bronzeville youth center — WGN-TV, March 1, 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 7.CBS News Chicago report on the charge against Antonio Hopkins — CBS News Chicago, March 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 8.CBS News Chicago report: Illinois lawmakers call for audit over facility child-abuse allegations — CBS News Chicago, October 4, 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026) ↩
- 9.Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran calls for audit of DCFS (Senate Resolution 1229) — Office of Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran, October 4, 2024 (accessed June 9, 2026)Official release ↩
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Trulon Henry was convicted (a motion for a new trial is pending); Antonio Hopkins has been charged and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.