If you have reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused, please immediately make a report through DCFS hotline (available 24/7), make an online DCFS report, or file a police report. As always, if you suspect someone's life is in immediate danger, please call 911.
If available to you, please have the following information ready for the DCFS Hotline:
- Birth date (or age range), race, gender.
- Addresses for both victims and perpetrators, including a current location.
- Information about siblings and family members.
- Any relevant information collected including the extent of any injuries, a child's disclosure of abuse, or the circumstances contributing to the risk of harm.
IN AN EMERGENCY:
Call the DCFS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-252-2873, available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. For outside Illinois, call 1-800-422-4453.
NON - EMERGENCY SITUATIONS:
Make an online report at https://childabuse.illinois.gov or through the
Online Reporting System.
Any person who knowingly transmits a false report to DCFS commits the offense of disorderly conduct, a class 4 felony.
Resources for Mandated Reporters
Everyone is encouraged to report suspected child abuse, neglect and maltreatment. However, Illinois state law requires certain professionals to report suspected child neglect and abuse under The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA) 325 ILCS 5/1 et seq. These professionals are called mandated reporters.
Mandated reporters are legally required to report if they have reasonable cause to believe a child known to them is being abused or neglected.
To report abuse, follow the steps above to report abuse to the DCFS hotline. Identify that you are a Mandated Reporter, tell the hotline right away that you believe it is an emergency, and give as much information about the abuse as possible.
