In the wake of the Penn State child abuse allegations, a spokesperson from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has stated that DCFS interprets the State’s Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, 325 ILCS 5/1 et seq., (ANCRA) to require college and university employees to report suspected child abuse. This development was reported in the Chicago Tribune on November 11, 2011, and it may require prompt action by post-secondary institutions operating within the State of Illinois.

Under ANCRA, certain individuals, including school personnel, are identified as “mandated reporters”; this means they have a duty to immediately make a report to DCFS if they have reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be neglected or abused. Separately, other professionals, such as physicians, social workers, registered nurses, licensed counselors, and psychologists, are identified as “mandated reporters” under the Act in their capacity as professionals rather than employees.