Child abuse pediatrics

If you suspect child maltreatment, what should you do?

Remember, you do not have to have all of the information about the situation when you make the call. When you call IDCFS to tell them your concerns it is their job to investigate the report and find out what is really going on.

If you see it, stop it. Unfortunately Americans frequently witness child abuse and do nothing about it. In fact, half of all people that witnessed child maltreatment said they did nothing.

Reporting abuse:

In Illinois, call the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) hotline:

1.800.25.ABUSE
You can request that your phone call be anonymous. However, it is more helpful to investigators if they can reach you to discuss your concerns.
Have key details available: What, When, and Where.
Outside of Illinois, go to Child Help USA or call 1.800.4.A.CHILD to find your state's local child protection agency.
If you need an urgent response, call 911.

Commonly asked questions:

1) I'm not sure whether I should report. What can I do?

If you aren't sure if you should report or not, call the IDCFS hotline (1.800.24.ABUSE) and tell them your situation. They should be able to advise you.

2) What information do I need to have to call IDCFS?

When you call the hotline, be sure to have the child's name, address and age. You should also be able to tell the hotline worker the type of child maltreatment you suspect, who the suspected perpetrators are, and their relationship to the child. Any other information you can provide IDCFS that you think will be helpful should also be shared.

To learn more about reporting to IDCFS, including what happens once a report is made, go to the IDCFS website.