IL DCFS Launches Enhanced Online System for Child Abuse Reports

ILLINOIS — The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) announced Friday it's improved and updated its online system for reporting allegations of child abuse and neglect. According to a news release from the DCFS, updates to the reporting system include easier submissions via cellphones, improved entry fields, clearer instructions, and fewer clicks, which in turn reduces the time it takes to make reports. These enhancements provide a convenient alternative to calling the 24-hour hotline, according to the DCFS.

This announcement follows the early months of the coronavirus pandemic when families were secluded at home, and therefore children were less likely to be seen by other adults, including teachers and other mandated reporters, according to the DCFS. In turn, less than 50 percent of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect came in during April 2020 compared to April 2019.

“We know teachers are one of the main groups of individuals who make reports to our hotline because they spend so much time with children every day; and now that schools are back in session, a teacher may be the first person outside a child’s immediate family to see him or her in quite some time,” Illinois DCFS Acting Director Marc D. Smith said, in the news release.

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Online reports through the enhanced site have quickly increased since its launch, with 434 online reports in the last week of September compared to 173 filed during the same time in 2019, according to the news release.

“Our user-friendly online reporting system makes it easier for everyone to file a report of suspected abuse or neglect, including those whose only access to the internet may be through a smartphone and prefer to file a report through the site,” Smith said, in the news release. “The earlier suspected abuse or neglect is reported, the earlier we can connect the family to services and supports they need to keep their children safely at home.”

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According to the DCFS, the new online reporting system also places reports directly into DCFS’s case management system, increasing internal efficiency. The new system is expected to simultaneously reduce the number of overall calls, requiring fewer return calls at a later time from DCFS staff during high-call volume periods, the news release said.

The DCFS added that the decrease in reports didn't result in fewer investigations, as the number of investigations actually increased compared to the prior year.

To make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect online in a non-emergency situation, visit
dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov To make a report by phone, call 1-800-25-ABUSE (800-252- 2873). The DCFS added that calls and online reports may be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For all emergencies, calls should be made to 911.