REPORTING CHILD ABUSE

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Abuse Hotline

Reporting Child Abuse
1–800–25–ABUSE (1–800–252–2873)
1–217–524–2606 Outside of Illinois
1–800–358–5117 (TTY)

Call Even if You Do Not Have All the Information

There are seven groups of mandated reporters as defined by state law (ANCRA, 1975):

Child abuse and or neglect is the maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a:
- Parent, guardian, foster parent, relative caregiver, paramour, any individual residing in the same home, any person responsible for the child’s welfare at the time of the alleged abuse, or any person who came to know the child through an official capacity or position of trust.
Child abuse can be physical abuse and/or sexual abuse and/or neglect.
Physical abuse occurs when a parent or a person responsible for the child’s welfare inflicts, caused to be inflicted, or allowed to be inflicted a physical injury; created a substantial risk of physical injury; commits a act of torture; inflicts excessive corporal punishment; allows the use of alcohol and/or drugs.
Sexual abuse occurs when a parent or a person responsible for the child’s welfare commits or allows to be committed any of the following: transmission of a sexual disease; sexual penetration; sexual molestation; sexual exploitation and/or places a minor at risk of sexual harm.
Neglect occurs when a parent or a person responsible for the child deprives or fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter or needed medical care.

Whenever you have reason to believe that a person who cares for a child, lives with a child, or works with or around children has caused injury or harm or put a child at risk of sexual and or physical injury, or has neglected the child’s basic needs.
Mandated Reporters are required to report suspected child maltreatment immediately when they have reason to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused and/or neglected child.

Name, age, race, gender, address etc for all adult and child subjects.
The nature of the suspected abuse and or neglect, including when and where it occurred and any additional persons with information.
The name(s) of the suspected perpetrator(s) and their relationship and access to the child.

The hotline worker will listen to what you report.
The hotline worker may ask additional questions in order to gather additional information.
The hotline worker will determine if the information provided meets the legal requirement for DCFS to initiate an investigation.
If an investigation is initiated a child protection investigator will begin the investigation process within 24 hours.
If the hotline worker determines that the information given does not meet the legal requirement to initiate an investigation you will be informed of the reasons why and referrals provided if appropriate.

Call the police if you believe the child is in immediate danger or has been injured.