Section 51.50  Assessment of Reports

a)         The Project shall, upon receiving a report of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation, obtain the consent of the subject of the report to conduct an assessment of the report.  The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, a face-to-face interview with the adult with disabilities who is the subject of the report.  This meeting may include a visit to the residence of the adult with disabilities and interviews or consultations with service agencies or individuals who may have knowledge of the circumstances of the adult with disabilities.  A determination shall be made whether a report is substantiated.

b)         If it is determined that there is clear and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm, the Office of Inspector General shall immediately secure or provide emergency protection services for the purpose of preventing further abuse, neglect or exploitation and for safeguarding the welfare of the adult with disabilities.  Such service shall be provided in the least restrictive environment commensurate with the adult with disabilities' needs.

c)         The Project shall initiate an assessment of all reports of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect within 7 calendar days after the report.  Reports of abuse or neglect that indicate that the life or safety of an adult with disabilities is in imminent danger shall be assessed within 24 hours after the receipt of the report.  Reports of exploitation shall be assessed within 30 calendar days after the report is received. The Project shall have access to financial records during the course of exploitation assessments in accordance with the Illinois Banking Act [205 ILCS 5/48.1(16)], the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 [205 ILCS 105/3-8(c)(14)], the Savings Bank Act [205 ILCS 205/4013(c)(13)], the Illinois Credit Union Act [205 ILCS 305/10(3)(b)(13)], and the Illinois Power of Attorney Act [755 ILCS 45/2-7.5(b)(iii)].

d)         When the Project determines that a case is substantiated, it shall refer the case to the appropriate office within the Department of Human Services to develop, with the consent of  and in consultation with the adult with disabilities, a service plan for the adult with disabilities.

e)         The Project staff shall refer reports of alleged and suspected abuse, neglect and exploitation to another State agency when that agency has a statutory obligation to investigate such reports.

f)          If the Project has reason to believe that a crime has been committed, the incident shall be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency. [20 ILCS 2435/35]

g)         Project staff shall make reasonable accommodation of any disability of an adult, including but not limited to the regular use of sign language for any hearing impaired person for whom sign language is a primary mode of communication.  If the adult with disabilities is unable to communicate effectively in English, Project staff shall make reasonable efforts to communicate in a language that the individual understands, which may involve the use of a translator or interpreter.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 11543, effective June 20, 2006)