Illinois Mandated Reporter Training: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Distinguish indicators that may support reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect from poverty-related family needs using objective, bias-aware criteria.

2. Select the Illinois reporting actions and documentation required when a child known in a professional capacity may be abused or neglected.

3. Describe trauma-informed responses to a child and the reporter's role during the child protective services response.

Who is it for: Illinois Healthcare Professionals categorized as mandated reporters including Physicians (MD), Osteopathic Physicians (DO), Physician Assistants, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Practical Nurses, Dentists, and Dental Hygienists. Illinois Medical Doctor CME Requirements Illinois Physician Assistant CME Requirements Illinois Registered Nurse CE Requirements Illinois Licensed Practical Nurse CE Requirements Illinois Pharmacist CE Requirements Illinois Pharmacy Technician CE Requirements Illinois Dentist CE Requirements Illinois Dental Hygienist CE Requirements

This 1-hour course prepares Illinois medical personnel to meet their mandated reporter responsibilities when child abuse or neglect may be present. It addresses practice gaps in applying the reasonable-cause standard, distinguishing poverty-related needs from neglect, recognizing and reducing bias in reporting decisions, responding to children in a trauma-informed manner, documenting objectively, and following current Illinois reporting procedures and the DCFS Forward Together and SAFE Model, including the Family Functioning Assessment. Learners will practice identifying reportable concerns, selecting appropriate reporting and documentation actions, and supporting children appropriately before and after a report. The course also includes the implicit bias case example pretest, training task, and case example posttest required within Illinois mandated reporter training. This course will enhance your ability to apply the reasonable-cause standard, distinguish poverty-related needs from child abuse or neglect, recognize and reduce the influence of implicit bias on reporting decisions, respond to children in a trauma-informed manner, document objectively, and correctly follow Illinois DCFS reporting protocols and the Forward Together and SAFE Model, including the Family Functioning Assessment.

This course is designed to meet the 1-hour mandated reporter training requirement for Illinois medical personnel (Illinois General Assembly, 2026c). Medical personnel who work with children complete this training at least every 6 years and attest at each license renewal, and for Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) licensees whose professions require continuing education, the training may count toward those hours. This course does not meet the separate Illinois implicit bias awareness training requirement for healthcare professionals (IDFPR, 2026).