A Child Appears Abused, Neglected or Dependent
A Police Officer or a Physician takes protective custody of child or an Observer/Mandated Reporter calls DCFS hotline, 800-25-ABUSE, to report suspected abuse or neglect.

• Physical Abuse: A parent or person responsible for the child’s welfare inflicts, causes or allows to be inflicted upon the child physical injury, creates a substantial risk of physical injury, and/or commits acts of torture. 
• Sexual Abuse: A parent or person responsible for the child’s welfare sexually exploits, molests, penetrates, or transmits diseases to a child.  
• Neglect: A parent or person responsible for the child’s welfare deprives or fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, or needed medical treatment. Additionally it is considered neglectful to permit the child to be in an injurious environment or to give birth to an infant who has been exposed to a controlled substance.
• Dependence: A child who is without a parent or guardian; who is without proper care because of either a physical and/or mental disability or the death of his parent or custodian; who is without proper medical care through no fault of the parent; or a child who has a parent who for good cause wishes to be relieved of all parental rights and responsibilities.

DCFS Hotline
Information is transmitted to the local Child Protection Unit.

Child Protection Investigator (CPI)
Investigates within 24 hours – sooner if imminent harm; takes temporary protective custody (PC) of any child who seems to be at imminent risk of harm.

State’s Attorney’s Office
Reviews facts of the investigation; if probable cause is found, files a petition for Adjudication of Wardship with Juvenile Court. The allegations of abuse, neglect or dependency must meet the criteria for juvenile court involvement and there should be enough evidence present to prove abuse, neglect, or dependency.

Juvenile Court
The Temporary Custody Hearing is scheduled to be held within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, of when the child comes into temporary protective custody (PC), or after service of summons to the parents.

To download the full Guide for Parents in Juvenile Neglect Cases Booklet, please click here.