Churches Reporting and Responding
to Child Abuse
Go directly to:
• Mandated Reporters
• What conditions are needed for DCFS
to intervene
• Who to report to
• Making a Hotline call
• Confidentiality
• If you believe a child has been abused...
• Interviewing a child
Mandated Reporters
Mandated reporters 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 abused or neglected.
Privileged communication between professional and client is not grounds
for failure to report.
You may have to testify in court regarding any incident you report.
State law protects the identity of all mandated reporters, and you are
given immunity from legal liability as a result of reports you make in
good faith.
If you fail to report, you are subject to criminal liability and some
professionals may be subject to penalties by their regulatory or licensing
boards.
Child Abuse Hotline in Illinois:
1-800-25A-BUSE
Mandated Reporters in the church:
There has been a change in the reporting act requiring clergy to report abuse
but not neglect except "a confession or admission made to him or her
in his or her professional character or as a spiritual advisor..."
"Any person responsible for the child's welfare at the time of
the alleged abuse or neglect, or any person who came to know the child
through an official capacity or position of trust, including...members
of the clergy and where children may be subject to abuse or neglect."
If the church has a nursery, child day care center or recreational program
then all employees and volunteers in those programs are mandated reporters.
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What conditions must exist before DCFS will
become involved in the case?
• The victim must be under the age of 18
• The alleged perpetrator must be a parent, stepparent, paramour of the
natural parent, guardian, foster parent, immediate family member, any person
living in the home of the child, a person who was in a position of authority
over the child (teacher, doctor, etc.), or a person responsible for the welfare
of the child (baby-sitter, daycare, etc.).
• There must be a specific incident of abuse or neglect or a specific set
of circumstances involving suspected abuse or neglect.
• There must be either demonstrated harm or a substantial risk of physical
or sexual injury to the child.
If the report does not meet all these elements, DCFS has no jurisdiction.
The Hotline intake worker will refer the reporter to the police or
other agency.
Just because DCFS has no jurisdiction, the police may still open
a case and investigate. Not all perpetrators may be in a position of
care, custody, or control of a child. The perpetrator may be a stranger
or simply an acquaintance.
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You are required by law to report to one of
the following:
• Department of Children and Family Services
• The Police Department
• The Sheriff's Department
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When making a Hotline Call, you will be
asked to provide the following information:
• Name, address, and age of victim(s)
• Name and address of parent(s) or guardian, and siblings
to the victim
• Details of abuse, including specifics of the incident(s),
location and severity of injuries, if there is any physical evidence.
• Any information provided by the child or behavior
witnessed by the Mandated Reporter
• Any other relevant information that would expedite
the investigation, such as directions to the victim's home or information about
potential risks to the investigation.
What if I am wrong? It is better
to err on the side of reporting, rather than risk injury or death to
a child.
What if I am not sure a child is being abused? It
is not necessary for you to prove abuse or neglect, only have
reasonable suspicion.
What if my supervisor will not allow me to
report? You do not need permission to report. It
is your legal responsibility to report. It is a Class A Misdemeanor
if you interfere with someone making a report.
Can I be sued? As a mandated reporter
you are immune from civil and criminal liability.
What if I don't report? You may
be subject to criminal liability and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.
You could also be subject to civil liability from a child who is injured
by your failure to report. More importantly, a child could be injured
or killed.
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Confidentiality:
Avoid discussing a situation with others, unless that person is
directly involved with the case. Do not inform or get others
involved in the situation unless it is absolutely necessary. This includes
other teachers and school staff members.
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If you believe a child has been abused:
• Stay calm and try to act normal.
• Do not let your interview of the child become
an interrogation.
• Try not to bring unnecessary attention to the child,
and do not make them feel as if they have done anything wrong or are being punished.
• Do not have the child bathe or change clothes.
• Gather the information that will be requested by the
Hotline.
• Contact the Hotline and/or appropriate agency.
• Do not contact the parents or caregiver if
you suspect that they are responsible for the abuse.
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Interviewing a Child:
• Don't do too much.
• Stop the interview as soon as you are satisfied you
have reasonable suspicion that something has occurred. There is no need to get
into further detail.
• The interview should not be in the presence of other
children or adults. There should only be one person interviewing the child.
• Maintain your openness and composure, regardless of
how shocking a child's statements.
• Listen. Do not talk too much. Do not pressure
the child to talk.
• Do not ask leading questions. Do not ask "why?" questions.
• When speaking, use the child's terms or words.
• Do not make assumptions and insert that information
into your questions to the child.
• Remember or write down specific quotes or comments
the child made.
• Stop the conversation if the child shows signs of
discomfort.
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Remember...
You may already have enough information to make a Hotline
report, without interviewing the child. This can include unsolicited
statements, comments, or behavior witnessed by you or others. In this
case, do not interview the child.
Law Enforcement and DCFS will conduct a Child Forensic Interview at
the Children's Action Network (or Advocacy Center). Your conversation
with or interview of the child can negatively impact the results of this
interview, if it is not handled appropriately. The least number individuals
who have spoken with the child, the better. The goal is to conduct only
one interview of the child, so as not to further traumatize the child.
You have fulfilled your responsibility by reporting to the Hotline
and/or Law Enforcement. It is not your responsibility to investigate,
interrogate, and solve the crime.
Courtesy of the:
Quincy Police Department
Youth Investigations
110 South 8th Street
Quincy, IL 62301
Children's Action Network of Adams County
529 Hampshire Street, 2nd Floor
Quincy, IL 62301
Children's Action Network of Pike County
P.O. Box 207
222 North Monroe Street
Pittsfield, IL 62363
Department of Children and Family Services
107 North 3rd Street, Suite 2
Quincy, IL 62301
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