Children

(325 ILCS 5/) Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

“Abused child” means a child whose parent or immediate family member, or any person responsible for the child’s welfare, or any individual residing in the same home as the child, or a paramour of the child’s parent:

• inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows to be inflicted upon such child physical injury, by other than accidental means, which causes death, disfigurement, impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any bodily function;

• creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such child by other than accidental means which would be likely to cause death, disfigurement, impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any bodily function;

• commits or allows to be committed any sex offense against such child, as such sex offenses are defined in the Criminal Code of 1961, as amended, and extending those definitions of sex offenses to include children under 18 years of age;

• commits or allows to be committed an act or acts of torture upon such child; or

• inflicts excessive corporal punishment.

“Person responsible for the child’s welfare” means the child’s parent; guardian; foster parent; any person responsible for the child’s welfare in a public or private residential agency or institution; any person responsible for the child’s welfare within a public or private profit or not for profit child care facility; or any other person responsible for the child’s welfare at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect, or any person who came to know the child through an official capacity or position of trust, including but not limited to health care professionals, educational personnel, recreational supervisors, and volunteers or support personnel in any setting where children may be subject to abuse or neglect.

PA 101-0583 – Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act

• Any report that is “unfounded” by the DCFS hotline will be directly given to local law enforcement and the State’s attorney’s office for consideration of a criminal case

  • Because of this, we need to be very mindful of what we are reporting and follow the guidelines listed below for mandated reporters to avoid breaking confidentiality

If you have any questions about reporting to DCFS please contact your supervisor.