Reporting to DCFS

(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.

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

Effective 1/1/2020
  • Reports can be made based on hearsay (not just direct disclosures)

    • Applicable during phone advocacy, if you receive information from a third party (nurse, guardian, etc.) you are still required to report

  • Any reports labeled “unfounded” by DCFS will be sent directly to Law Enforcement

      • Be mindful of what you are reporting and make sure it is REPORTABLE otherwise you could be breaking confidentiality

      • Please check in with Allyson or your BU if you are unsure if a situation is reportable

General Guidelines for Reporting:
  1. Timely
    • Within 24 Hours of incident
    • Give a callback time frame of when YOU are available
  2. As Much Information as possible
    • Names / Ages / General Description
    • Address
    • Phone numbers
    • Brief factual history of incident
    • Facts only
    • Time/place of incident
    • Disclosure by victim or any possible witnesses
    • Physical evidence
  3. Call regardless of if other Professionals call
  4. Once you have reported via phone fill out CANTS 5 Form
CANTS 5 FORM:

Form must be filled out with 48 Hours & emailed or mailed to local DCFS office.

Form is not in place of calling DCFS hotline but is confirmation from our agency that you made the call.

If you are unable to mail the CANTS 5 form please fill out and email to Kaila as soon as you make the DCFS call. Kaila will then mail the form to DCFS within the 48 hour time requirement.

CANTS 5 Forms should be emailed or mailed to nearest DCFS office:

IL DCFS : 1755 Lake Cook Rd. Deerfield, IL 60015

Please use Arlington Heights Office Return Address on CANTS form:

415 Golf Rd. Suite 47

Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault
Cook County Crisis Hotline: 888-802-8890 | McHenry County Crisis Hotline: 800-892-8900
Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault
415 West Golf Road, Suite 47
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 806-6526
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