Mandated Reporters of Abuse

Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

The Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA), has been amended in 2012 to include “personnel of institutions of higher education.” Accordingly, all individuals employed and/or appointed by the College, including but not limited to faculty, staff, student employees, and volunteers are considered Mandated Reporters of child abuse and neglect. This means that all employees have a duty to immediately report or cause a report to be made whenever they have “reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be abused or neglected.” St. Augustine College employees have a legal obligation to immediately report or cause a report to be made to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) at (800) 25-ABUSE, or (800-252-2873).

Students in the Social Work, Respiratory Therapy and Early Childhood Education programs are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect whenever they have reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them through their student participation in field placements, internships and teaching placements in social service agencies, health care facilities and child care/school settings may be abused or neglected.