Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 5.
Act 207 by Representative Chaney amends the Children’s Code so to provide for additional means by which permitted and mandatory reporters may report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the Dept. of Children and Family Services.
Present law provides that permitted reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect shall report such cases by phone through the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) designated child protection reporting hotline. The new law adds reporting in person at any DCFS child welfare office as a means for permitted reporters to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
The new law provides that mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect shall report such cases through the DCFS designated child protection reporting hotline, via the DCFS Mandated Reporter Portal online, or in person at any child welfare office.
The new law stipulates that making a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to DCFS by facsimile does not relieve the reporter of his duty to report in accordance with present law and proposed law.
Present law provides that if a mandatory reporter's initial report of suspected child abuse or neglect was in oral form, then it shall be followed by a written report made within five days to the local child protection unit of DCFS. The new law revises present law to provide that if a mandatory reporter's initial report was in oral form, then it shall be followed by a written report made within five days via the online DCFS Mandated Reporter Portal or by mail to the DCFS centralized intake unit.
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