03. Child Abuse/ Neglect Reporting Policy

POLICY INFORMATION

Subject:

Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Policy.

Policy:

It is the policy of the Iroquois-Kankakee ROE Teen REACH Program that all Teen REACH staff are mandated reporters and are to follow the guidelines of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act of 1975.

Procedure

1. Procedure for Suspected Family Cases of Abuse or Neglect:
   1. All staff working in the Teen REACH program will be provided training about abuse, copies of The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and a Manual for Mandated Reporters. Each staff person will be made aware of his or her responsibility as a mandated reporter during the orientation process and is required to sign acknowledgment of Mandated Reporter status.
   2. All mandated reporters are to call the Child Abuse Hotline 1- 800-252-2873 when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child has been abused or neglected. (Report to immediate supervisor of the Teen REACH program) A copy of the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Written Confirmation of Suspected Abuse/Neglected Report: Mandated Reporters shall be placed in the participant's file (see attached forms).
   3. Follow the guidelines in the Manual for Mandated Reporters regarding information to report to the Hotline.
   4. All parents/guardians will be informed of the Teen REACH staff's responsibility as a Mandated Reporter at the time of their child's admittance into the program. This information will also be included in the Parent handbook or orientation packet.
   5. All Teen REACH staff will sign the form indicating they are have reviewed the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and the Manual for Mandated Reporters and are aware of their role as a Mandated reporter.
2. Procedure For Suspected Agency Cases of Abuse or Neglect:
   1. All Kankakee Country Teen REACH programs are to provide safe management of children and youth by staff and volunteers.
      1. All staff and volunteers working in the Teen REACH program will be provided training on clearly established norms of behavior for staff and how to handle children and youth with problem behaviors. (Refer to TR CR 02-V01; Positive Discipline and Conflict Resolution) All staff and volunteers will be required to sign an acknowledgement of their role as a Mandated Reporter at hire and annually.
      2. All staff and volunteers will be instructed in the method for identifying and reporting suspected abuse or neglect within the agency. A report is to be made through the Child Abuse Hotline 1- 800-252-2873 when there is reasonable cause to suspect a child has been abused or neglected. This must always be reported to the Program supervisor, the Director of Youth Opportunities and to IDHS. A copy of the report shall be placed in the participant's file. A report will also be filed with the local law enforcement agency per Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) guidelines.
      3. When a report involves an employee; that employee will not have any direct contact with children in the program until the report has been fully investigated by DCFS.
      4. Parents and guardians of the child(ren) will be notified by the Program supervisor or designee of the report of suspected abuse to DCFS.
      5. Disciplinary action including termination of the employee will occur if the report is founded by DCFS. All required agencies will be notified.
3. Follow-up on internal and external Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect:
   1. In all cases of suspected abuse or neglect (either internal or external) the Director of Youth Opportunities or designee, will follow up on reports made to the DCFS Hotline, other involved agencies and with the family.