The College strives to offer a safe and supportive learning and working environment for all individuals. In support of that goal, the College has established prohibitions and reporting protocols for its employees and volunteers with respect to child abuse, sexual misconduct, and child pornography.
In addition, Illinois law requires that certain persons, including personnel of higher education, report any case of suspected child abuse or child neglect to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
College Reporting Protocols
Applicability
All College employees and volunteers are mandated reporters. As such, these protocols apply to all employees and volunteers who are performing services for the College. This may include but is not limited to individuals who fall within one or more of the following classifications: executive cabinet, administrative/management, faculty, professional employees, adjunct faculty, clinical nurse, support staff, student employee, post-doctoral fellow or volunteer.
All mandated reporters are required, upon hire and as required by the College to complete an acknowledgment of mandated reporter status (CANTS 22). In addition, mandated reporters must complete any training required by the College or DCFS.
Definitions
- Child: An individual under 18 years of
- Child Abuse: Harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare or by a teacher, a teacher’s aide, coach, athletic director or a member of the
- Child Neglect: Harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare that occurs through either of the following:
- Negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical care.
- Placing a child at an unreasonable risk to the child’s health or welfare by failure of the parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, knowledge of the
- Child Pornography: Any depiction which is of a child or appears to include a child engaging in sexual intercourse, erotic fondling, sadomasochistic abuse, masturbation, passive sexual involvement, sexual excitement, or erotic nudity.
- Mandated Reporters: All College employees and volunteers are mandated
- Sexual Misconduct: See College’s Sexual Assault Policy for a detailed review of prohibited offenses, including but not limited to sexual assault.
Reporting Protocols
- Child Abuse or Child Neglect:
- Employees and volunteers are mandated reporters and required to make an immediate verbal report to the Department of Children and Family Services ("DCFS") by calling (800) 252- 2873 if they suspect child abuse or Mandated reporters are also required to file a written report with DCFS within 48 hours. (CANTS 4 or 5)
- Employees or volunteers who suspect a child may be abused or neglected may also contact Campus Security and/or the Title IX Coordinator for assistance with making the verbal and/or written In any event, the reporter must notify both the Title IX Coordinator and Director of Security.
- If the reporter suspects that the child abuse or neglect occurred on campus or involves a member of the College community, the reporter must notify the Director of Security or the Title IX Coordinator prior to making that
- Clinic nurses and other health professionals should continue to follow their current, established reporting protocols for child abuse/neglect and notify the Director of Security and Title IX
- Sexual Assault or Other Sexual Misconduct:
- Employees or volunteers who receive an allegation of sexual assault related to a member of the College community (faculty, staff or student) must report the alleged sexual assault or other sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator and the Director of Campus The matter will be processed administratively and Campus Security will work with the complainant to file a criminal report. This would include an allegation that a College community member (elected official, employee or volunteer) has sexually assaulted a child.
- Employees should refer to the Sexual Assault Policy for information about their reporting This policy can be found online at Prohibiting Sex-Based Misconduct Policy
- Child Pornography:
Employees or volunteers who become aware of suspected child pornography on the College’s electronic communication system must contact the Security Department immediately.
Violations
Employees or volunteers who knowingly fail to report suspected child abuse, child neglect, sexual assault, or child pornography may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. “Mandated reporters” under State law may also be subject to civil and criminal penalties for failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Contact Information
-
Campus Security
5800 Godfrey Road Godfrey, IL
(618) 468-2300
Emergencies: 911
braish@lc.edu -
Title IX Coordinator
5800 Godfrey Road Godfrey, IL
(618) 468-6000
shill@lc.edu - Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Report Abuse & Neglect Hotline
(800) 252-2873