3.1.4 - Compliance with The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act

Last updated on April 4, 2023

POLICY:  It is the policy of Spoon River College to be in full compliance with The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act requires mandated reporters to immediately report suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

SCOPE:

This policy applies to all Spoon River College employees and students who are enrolled in the Education program.

DEFINITIONS:

Abused Child: 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:

  1. 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;
  2. 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;
  3. 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, or in the Wrongs to Children Act, and extending those definitions of sex offenses to include children under 18 years of age;
  4. commits or allows to be committed an act or acts of torture upon such child;
  5. Inflicts excessive corporal punishment;
  6. commits or allows to be committed the offense of female genital mutilation, as defined in Section 12-34 of the Criminal Code of 1961, against the child;
  7. causes to be sold, transferred, distributed, or given to such child under 18 years of age, a controlled substance as defined in Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act in violation of Article IV of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or in violation of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, except for controlled substances that are prescribed in accordance with Article III of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and are dispensed to such child in a manner that substantially complies with the prescription; or
  8. commits or allows to be committed the offense of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services as defined in Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 1961 against the child.

Child: Any person under the age of 18 years, unless legally emancipated by reason of marriage or entry into a branch of the United States armed services.

Mandated Reporter:  Personnel of institutions of higher education.  Note: for the purpose of this policy, Spoon River College has included students who are enrolled in an education program.

DETAILS:

  1. Mandated Reporters will receive a copy of the Compliance with The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act policy.
  2. All mandated reporters will complete an Acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter Status form. For employees, this form will be completed and returned to the Human Resources Office. For students enrolled in an education program, this form will be completed and returned to the Student Services Office.
  3. All mandated reporters will complete the Mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training located at https://mr.dcfstraining.org/.

PROCEDURES:

  1. Any mandated reporter who suspects a child is being abused (please refer to “Abused Child” definition above) must call the hotline DCFS hotline at:
    1-800-25-Abuse
    1-800-252-2873
    1-217-524-2606
    TTY: 1-800-358-5117
  2. Mandated Reporter must submit a written confirmation of that report within 48 hours of calling hotline.
  3. Mandated Reporter must inform the College President or Director of Human Resources that a report has been submitted.