Notices Whether Child Abuse or Neglect Occurred

Section 300 Section 300.130   Notices Whether Child Abuse or Neglect Occurred a)         Written Notices of Decision The Department provides a written notice to mandated reporters who reported suspected child abuse or neglect as well as to the child's parent, personal guardian, or legal custodian; the Juvenile Court Judge (when a State ward is involved); and the alleged perpetrator concerning the final determination of the report. b)         Mandated Reporters 1)         Mandated reporters who have reported suspected child abuse or neglect are informed via a written notice that a formal investigation was conducted. The written notice also provides an explanation of how further information on an indicated report may be secured.  Department staff will notify them in writing: A)        of the name of the child who was the subject of a report of abuse or neglect; B)        whether the report was indicated or unfounded; C)        whether the Department took temporary protective custody. 2)         Requests for additional information must be directed, in writing, to the State Central Register and must include: A)        the identity of the requestor; B)        the subject's name for whom the record is requested; C)        a notary public's attestation as to the identity of the requestor; D)        the purpose of the request. 3)         Upon receipt of an appropriate request, only the following information will be disclosed to the mandated reporter: A)        whether a Department case has been opened for the family or children; and B)        what Department services are being provided to the family or children. 4)         All requested information is sent in writing through certified mail and is deliverable only to the mandated reporter who made the request. 5)         Whenever the Department determines that a reported incident of child abuse or neglect from a mandated reporter is unfounded, the mandated reporter may request a review of the investigation within ten days after the notification of the final findings.  Multi-disciplinary Review Committees established in each of the Department's regions shall conduct requested reviews. 6)         Multi-disciplinary Review Committees shall draw upon the expertise of the Child Death Review Teams (see Section 300.170 of this Part).  Each committee shall be composed of a health care professional, Department employee, law enforcement official, licensed social worker, and representative of a State's Attorney's office.  When appointing committee members, primary consideration shall be given to candidates with prior child abuse and neglect case experience. 7)         Multi-disciplinary Review Committees will have access to all information in the Department's possession related to the case being reviewed.  Committee recommendations concerning the adequacy of the investigation and accuracy of the final finding determination shall be made to the regional Child Protection Manager. 8)         Department records of investigations provided to committees and committee recommendation reports shall not be public record. c)         Parents, Personal Guardians, Legal Custodians, and Alleged Perpetrators 1)         Custodial and non-custodial parents, personal guardians, or legal custodians of child subjects, and alleged perpetrators shall receive notification within five calendar days after the report has been indicated or unfounded which indicate that the allegations were either: A)        unfounded, and that all identifying information in the computer and local index files will be retained in accordance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 431 (Confidentiality of Information of Persons Served by the Department); or B)        indicated, and all Department records will be maintained intact. 2)         In addition, written notices shall explain that: A)        the subjects of the report have access to the Department's records on the report, with the exception of the identity of the reporter or other persons who cooperated in the investigation; B)        the subjects of the report have the right to request a review of the determination that the report was indicated including the decision to maintain a record of the report in the Department's computer and local index files.  89 Ill. Adm. Code 336 (Appeal of Child Abuse and Neglect Investigation Findings) fully explains the Department's review and appeal process; and C)        the subjects of the report may request, within 10 days of the date on the written notice, that an unfounded report be retained in the Department's computer and local index files, if the subjects of the report believe the report was not made in good faith.  All such requests will be honored. d)         Extended Family An extended family member interviewed for relevant information during the course of an investigation by the Child Protective Service Unit may request and receive the following information about the findings and actions taken by the Child Protective Service Unit to ensure the safety of the child or children who were the subjects of the investigation: 1)         name of the child who was the subject of the abuse or neglect report; 2)         whether the report was indicated or unfounded; 3)         whether the Department took protective custody; 4)         whether a Department case has been opened for the family or children; 5)         what Department services are being provided the family or children; and 6)         whether a safety plan has been established. e)         Child's School 1)         The Department shall send a copy of final finding reports involving indicated allegations of physical or sexual abuse to the indicated victim's school within ten days after the investigation is completed.  Reports completed during the summer months shall be sent to the last known school attended by the child. 2)         The final finding report shall be sent confidential and the school shall ensure that the report remains confidential in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act. 3)         The victim's school shall purge the final finding report from the student's record and return the report to the Department upon notification from the Department that the report was overturned in an appeal or hearing or an indicated finding has been expunged from the State Central Register or that the Department has determined that the child is no longer at risk of physical or sexual harm. f)         Other Parties The Department shall notify, in writing, those supervisors or administrators referenced in Section 300.100(i) of this Part whether a report involving the persons they supervise was indicated or unfounded and, if unfounded, that Section 13 of the Personnel Record Review Act [820 ILCS 40/13] requires that any record of the investigation must be expunged from the employee's personnel records.  The Department shall also notify the employee, in writing, that notification has been sent to the employer informing the employer that the Department's investigation has resulted in an unfounded report.  The notice to the employee shall also contain a statement of the employee's right to take the notice to the employer to have any record of the investigation expunged from the employee's record. g)         Child Abuse and Neglect Reports on Children in Department Custody 1)         When a child is reported to the Department as being abused or neglected while in a foster home or relative home placement, whether by the foster parent, caregiver, or any other person residing in the home, the Department shall promptly notify the following persons when the report has been made, when an investigation is pending, and when the report has been indicated or unfounded: A)        the parents or private guardians of the alleged abuse or neglect victim; B)        all Department caseworkers or case managers responsible for the alleged victim and for any other children in the same foster home or relative home placement; C)        those persons designated by the Director as responsible for evaluating the investigation and the disposition of the report; D)        Department staff responsible for licensing and making placements with the facility. 2)         When a child is reported to the Department as being abused or neglected while in residential placement, the Department shall promptly notify the following persons when the report has been made, an investigation is pending, and when the report has been indicated or unfounded: A)        the parents or private guardians of the alleged abuse or neglect victim; B)        those Department caseworkers or case managers responsible for the alleged victim, for each child alleged to be a witness to the incident, and for each child alleged to be a perpetrator of the incident; C)        those persons designated by the Director responsible for evaluating the investigation and the disposition of the report; D)        Department staff responsible for licensing and making placements with the facility. 3)         The Department shall notify the following when a report involving a child in Department custody is indicated: A)        the Juvenile Court.  If services are being provided by the Department or its providers, the notice shall also give the name and location of the Department office serving the children; B)        the Department's administrative case reviewer responsible for reviewing the case plans of the children involved. 4)         The Department shall transmit a copy of the report to the guardian ad litem appointed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 when a report has been indicated, unfounded, or undetermined and the minor who is the subject of the report is also the minor for whom the guardian ad litem has been appointed.