NCJ Number
200333
Date Published
October 2000
Length
56 pages
Annotation
This document is a manual for mandated reporters designed to help them understand their responsibilities to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) hotline.
Abstract
Mandated reporters are professionals that may work with children in the course of their professional duties. There are six groups of mandated reporters: medical personnel, school personnel, social service/mental health personnel, law enforcement personnel, coroner/medical examiner personnel, and child care personnel. Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect immediately. Privileged communication between professional and client is not grounds for failure to report. The mandated reporter may have to testify regarding any incident reported if the case becomes the subject of legal or judicial action. State law protects the identity of all mandated reporters, and they are given immunity from legal liability as a result of reports made in good faith. Reports must be confirmed in writing to the local investigation unit within 48 hours of the hotline call. Details are provided on making a report and calling the DCFS hotline. The process of investigating reports by the DCFS is discussed. One change in this manual from when last printed is that reports of serious child abuse that are “unfounded” following a thorough investigation will be retained on file at the State Central Register for 3 years now instead of 1 year. Another change is that when a child that is a DCFS ward has been the subject of an “unfounded” report of abuse or neglect, the child’s court-appointed guardian ad litem (GAL) may request an administrative review of the investigation if the GAL feels the finding is incorrect. The final change is that mandated reporters that do not agree with an “unfounded” report of abuse or neglect and feel that important information has been overlooked may request that the investigation be reviewed. 4 appendices