10/07/2026
🛡️ Child Care Providers Are Mandated Reporters
Child care providers play an important role in protecting children. In Illinois, child care professionals are mandated reporters. This means they have a legal responsibility to make a report when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child they know through their work may be experiencing abuse or neglect.
You do not need to investigate the situation or prove that abuse or neglect occurred before making a report. Your responsibility is to recognize concerns and report them so trained professionals can assess the situation.
Mandated reporter training helps providers:
Recognize possible signs of abuse and neglect
Understand when and how to make a report
Respond to children in a supportive, trauma-informed way
Understand what happens after a report is made
Complete the DCFS Mandated Reporter Training here:
🔗 https://mr.dcfstraining.org/UserAuth/Login!loginPage.action
To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call the Illinois DCFS Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). Call 911 when a child faces immediate danger.
Being a mandated reporter is an important part of providing a safe and supportive child care environment.
