Section 432.2  Definitions

"Maximum allowable risk" means the greatest tolerable risk the Department will permit to the children and families it serves.  This risk must not be greater overall than would be normally encountered in the daily lives or in routine medical or psychological care or examination of a comparable group of Illinois children for whom the Department is not legally responsible. Since abused, neglected, dependent and other children for whom the Department is legally responsible and their families may already be psychologically or physically disadvantaged compared to the general population of children and families, minimal risk requirements for these children and families will be more stringent than for the general population.

"Research" or "research project considered by the Department" means a formal investigation which is designed to develop, confirm or contribute to practical or theoretical knowledge of benefit to children and families, and which is proposed by persons who are not Department staff.  The systematic gathering of data which does not include identifying information on clients, for purposes of evaluating services or for review of legal compliance by appropriate governmental agencies, is not considered to be research.

"Research Review Board" means a committee appointed by the Director to review proposed research projects which would be conducted by persons who are not Department staff and which would involve children and families currently or formerly served by the Department directly or through contact or formal agreement, or records of such individuals.