SR0488 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0488 LRB100 12556 MAS 25655 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, 125,000 children are abused or neglected each year in Illinois, and one in five children will be abused before they become 18 years old; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services estimates as many as 100,000 cases of abused and neglected children go unreported each year; and

WHEREAS, Children will tell an average of seven adults that they are being abused or neglected before a report is made; and

WHEREAS, Every delay in reporting suspected abuse or neglect increases the likelihood that abuse will become more serious, or even deadly, and that the perpetrator will likely abuse additional children; and

WHEREAS, There are numerous professions that are required by law to be mandated reporters of abuse or neglect of a child, such as medical professionals, teachers, social workers, and ministers; and

WHEREAS, Such mandated reporters are required to sign a statement prior to the start of their employment that states that the employee has knowledge and understanding of being a mandated reporter; and

WHEREAS, Some professional organizations have taken it upon themselves to create training programs for their employees who are mandated reporters so that they better understand their responsibilities and can better recognize signs of child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services offers free online training to help all mandated reporters understand their role in protecting children by recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Children and Family Services to develop a plan to raise awareness of its free online training in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department shall draft a report no later than December 31, 2017 with its recommendations to the General Assembly on how this plan should be developed and implemented.