Reporting of Abuse & Neglect Allegations by Child Group Home Providers - Revised

Purpose

As part of the 2010 renewal of the Children's Residential Waiver with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the State was required to enhance its monitoring of the services provided in Child Group Homes. As a result, the State entered into action plans with federal CMS that, among other things, require Child Group Home providers to share with the Division of Developmental Disabilities allegations of abuse and neglect made to the Department of Children and Family Services, as well as final reports of investigations.

Process and Procedure

1. Abuse and Neglect Reports

   Child Group Home providers are required to report suspected child maltreatment immediately when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused or neglected child. This is done by calling the Department of Children and Family Services 24-hour hotline (800-25-ABUSE). Reports must be confirmed in writing to the local investigation unit within 48 hours of the hotline call.

   The types of critical incidents that must be reported include any specific incident of abuse or neglect or a specific set of circumstances involving suspected abuse or neglect, where there is demonstrated harm to the participant or a substantial risk of physical or sexual injury including sexual exploitation of the participant.

2. Reporting of Unusual Incidents (Restraint/Seclusion) by Child Group Home Providers Form CFS 119

   The Department of Children and Family Services has provided a form to all Child Group Home providers for use in providing written documentation of reports of abuse and neglect. This form is entitled:  Unusual Incident Reporting Form, CFS119.

   In order to quickly begin compiling and monitoring this information on a statewide basis for the Children's Residential Waiver participants, we are adopting the use of this form. Please see Unusual Incident Reporting Form (CFS 119).

   The Division's use of this form does not change current reporting requirements between Child Group Home providers and the Department of Children and Family Services. Providers should continue to follow that Department's reporting instructions. The Division's use of the form is in addition to current requirements; it is not in place of those requirements.

3. Submission of Form CFS119 to the Division of Developmental Disabilities

   The reports must be made by fax or electronic means to the Division of Developmental Disabilities by the end of the business day, following the day of the incident:

   Fax:  (217) 782-9444

   Email:  DHS.DDDCGH@illinois.gov
   The information provided on the form must include the date the allegation was reported to the Department of Children and Family Services.

1. Submission of Final Reports to the Division of Developmental

   In addition to the allegation reports, Child Group Home providers must send a copy of each final report by the Department of Children and Family Services of investigations involving Medicaid Waiver participants.

Effective Date

The implementation date of the reporting requirement is July 1, 2011. All allegations made and/or reports of investigations received on or after that date must be shared with the Division of Developmental Disabilities. The Division is prepared to begin receiving these documents as of the date of this notice.