1. Mandated Reporter Training
Woodford County Special Education Association

2. What is a Mandated Reporter?
Any school employee having reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused child or a neglected child.

3. Who is a Mandated Reporter?
All school employees
There are many other professions, also mandated.

4. Department of Children and Family Services
DCFS has the primary responsibility of protecting children through the investigation of suspected abuse or neglect by parents and other caregivers in a position of trust or authority over the child.
DCFS handles all hotline calls and investigations regarding alleged abuse/neglect.

5. What are abuse and neglect?
Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child under the age of 18 by:
A parent or their romantic partner;
An immediate relative or someone living in their home;
A caretaker such as a babysitter or daycare worker; or
Any person responsible for the child’s welfare, such as a health care provider, educator, coach or youth program volunteer. .

6. Mistreatment
The mistreatment can either result in injury or put the child at serious risk of injury.

7. Types of abuse
Child abuse can be physical (i.e. bruises or broken bones)
Child abuse can be sexual (i.e. fondling or incest)
Child abuse can be mental (emotional injury or psychological illness).

8. What is neglect?
Neglect is the failure of a parent or caretaker to meet “minimal parenting” standards for providing adequate supervision, food, clothing, medical care, shelter or other basic needs.

9. What do I do?
Document what was witnessed or heard from the “alleged” victim.
Call the hotline and write down the person’s name you are speaking with. Take notes.
They will guide you through a series of questions to determine their course of action.

10. Making a report
If you suspect abuse or neglect you have a legal responsibility to report it to the hotline.
Call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at ABUSE ( or TTY ) if you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect. If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.

11. Follow Up
If you leave your name and number, the DCFS Hotline worker or their supervisor should call you back and inform you of their decision.
Written follow up may be included, as well.

12. Confidentiality
State law protects the confidentiality of all reporters, and your name is never disclosed. You may still choose to make a report anonymously, but the inability of investigators to follow-up with you to obtain additional information may impede the investigation and the child’s safety.

13. Confidentiality
Your confidential call will not only make sure the child is safe, but also help provide the child’s family the services they need to provide a safe, loving and nurturing home.

14. Liability
The law protects you from civil liability for any call made in good faith.
Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect in Illinois by a mandated report may result in criminal charges, fines, jail time, and the loss of educator licensure.

15. Burden of responsibility
The Mandated Reporter does not have to prove the alleged abuse or neglect.
They report it to the DCFS HOTLINE.
It is up to DCFS to determine whether the call is undetermined, unfounded, or indicated.

16. Hotline calls
Hotline calls are screened by trained social workers to determine whether they warrant investigation for abuse or neglect.
Of the more than one million hotline calls received over the past four years, only about one in four resulted in a formal report and an investigation.
Many of the calls that do not lead to investigations are often directed to referrals that connect families with community-based programs aimed at preventing abuse.
When formal investigations do occur, only four percent result in children being removed from their homes

17. Undetermined Report
"An undetermined report" means any report made under this Act in which it was not possible to initiate or complete an investigation on the basis of information provided to the Department.

18. Unfounded report
"An unfounded report" means any report made under this Act for which it is determined after an investigation that no credible evidence of abuse or neglect exists.

19. Indicated report
"An indicated report" means a report made under this Act if an investigation determines that credible evidence of the alleged abuse or neglect exists.

20. What if I’m not sure?
As much as 70 percent of child abuse goes unreported
A child tells an average of seven adults that they are being abused or neglected before a report is made.

21. What if I’m not sure?
Every delay in reporting suspected abuse or neglect increases the likelihood that abuse will become more serious, or even deadly, and that the perpetrator will abuse additional children.
By trusting your own senses, common sense and instincts, and calling the hotline whenever you suspect a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm, you can ensure a child is safe and that her family is getting the help they need.

22. Signs
A child who's being abused may feel guilty, ashamed or confused. He or she may be afraid to tell anyone about the abuse, especially if the abuser is a parent, other relative or family friend. In fact, the child may have an apparent fear of parents, adult caregivers or family friends. That's why it's vital to watch for red flags.

23. General Signs Withdrawal from friends or usual activities
Changes in behavior — such as aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or changes in school performance
Depression, anxiety or a sudden loss of self-confidence
An apparent lack of supervision
Frequent absences from school or reluctance to ride the school bus
Reluctance to leave school activities, as if he or she doesn't want to go home
Attempts at running away
Rebellious or defiant behavior
Attempts at suicide

24. Caution
Specific signs and symptoms depend on the type of abuse. Keep in mind that warning signs are just that — warning signs. The presence of warning signs doesn't necessarily mean that a child is being abused.

25. Physical abuse
Unexplained injuries, such as bruises, fractures or burns
Injuries that don't match the given explanation
Untreated medical or dental problems

26. Sexual abuse
Sexual behavior or knowledge that's inappropriate for the child's age
Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection
Blood in the child's underwear
Statements that he or she was sexually abused
Trouble walking or sitting
Abuse of other children sexually

27. Emotional abuse Delayed or inappropriate emotional development
Loss of self-confidence or self-esteem
Social withdrawal
Depression
Headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause
Avoidance of certain situations, such as refusing to go to school or ride the bus
Desperately seeks affection

28. Neglect Poor growth or weight gain Poor hygiene
Lack of clothing or supplies to meet physical needs
Taking food or money without permission
Eating a lot in one sitting or hiding food for later
Poor record of school attendance
Lack of appropriate attention for medical, dental or psychological problems, even though the parents have been notified
Emotional swings that are inappropriate or out of context to the situation
Indifference

29. Parental/Caregiver Behavior
Shows little concern for the child
Appears unable to recognize physical or emotional distress in the child
Denies that any problems exist at home or school, or blames the child for the problems
Consistently blames, belittles or berates the child and describes the child with negative terms, such as "worthless" or "evil"
Expects the child to provide him or her with attention and care and seems jealous of other family members getting attention from the child
Uses harsh physical discipline or asks teachers to do so
Demands an inappropriate level of physical or academic performance
Severely limits the child's contact with others
Offers conflicting or unconvincing explanations for a child's injuries or no explanation at all

30. Additional Training
In an effort to assist mandated reporters understand their critical role in protecting children by recognizing and reporting child abuse, DCFS administers an online training course entitled Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Training for Mandated Reporters, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Visit

31. References