Mandated Reporter Training and Reporting
Every adult at Rainbow DJ Lab is trained as an Illinois mandated reporter and calls the DCFS Hotline directly, without needing anyone's permission.
Status
No staff have been hired, so no certificates are on file yet. "DCFS mandated reporter training certificates on file for every adult" is item 4 on the launch checklist. This policy was adopted by the Ras Tafari Inc. board on October 17, 2026.
Who is a mandated reporter
Under the Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5/4), personnel of recreational programs and facilities are mandated reporters. That covers Lab staff.
Our policy goes further: every staff member and every volunteer at the Lab completes the training and follows the reporting duty, whether or not the law names their exact role.
The training
- Every adult completes the Illinois DCFS mandated reporter training (the free online course from DCFS) before working with children.
- They save the completion certificate and give a copy to the Lab lead.
- The Lab lead records the completion date in the screening file.
- Training is renewed every 2 years. Illinois law also requires mandated reporters to repeat the training on a regular cycle; our 2-year cycle is meant to be at least as frequent.
- At the start of each season, the team reviews this page and walks through one scenario together.
What a mandated reporter must do
Illinois law requires a mandated reporter who has reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional role may be abused or neglected to report immediately to DCFS.
- Reasonable cause means suspicion. You do not need proof, and you do not investigate.
- Immediately means now, not after class, not after talking it over.
- Directly: the adult with the concern makes the call. Telling a supervisor does not satisfy the duty.
- No permission needed. Staff report directly and do not need anyone's permission. Illinois law says the person in charge of an organization may be told a report was made but may not control, change or stop it.
- Illinois law protects people who report in good faith. Knowingly and willfully failing to report is a crime.
Step by step: if a staff member suspects abuse or neglect
| Step | Who | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any adult | If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 | At once |
| 2 | Any adult | Keep the child safe and with the second adult in view. Do not leave the child alone with the person of concern. | At once |
| 3 | The adult with the concern | If a child tells you something: stay calm, listen, believe them, use their words. Do not ask leading questions, promise secrecy, or question them in depth. Say: "Thank you for telling me. You did the right thing. I'm going to get help." | In the moment |
| 4 | The adult with the concern | Call the DCFS Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873), personally | Immediately, the same day, before leaving the site |
| 5 | The adult with the concern | Write down what you saw or heard, in the child's words, with date and time, and the report details DCFS gives you | Same day |
| 6 | The adult with the concern | Tell the Lab lead a report was made (or another Ras Tafari Inc. officer if the concern involves the Lab lead) | After the call, same day |
| 7 | Lab lead | Follow DCFS or police guidance on whether and how to tell the parent. Do not contact the person of concern about the report. | As directed |
| 8 | Lab lead | Remove any Lab adult who is the subject of the concern from contact with children. See Enforcement. | Same day |
If two adults share the same concern, each one makes sure the call is made. Our policy is that neither assumes the other will do it.
What we teach children
In kid words, in their first class: "If anyone, even a grown-up you like, hurts you, touches you in a way that feels wrong, or asks you to keep a secret, tell a coach or your parent. You will never be in trouble for telling."
What you'll be told
- That every adult working with your child completed this training before their first class, with the completion date on request (see Staff screening).
- If a report involves your child, we call you the same day unless DCFS or police direct us not to. Their instructions come first, to protect the child and the investigation.
You can call too
Parents, children and anyone else may call the DCFS Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) or 911 directly. You never need to go through us. See Report a concern.
Sources
- Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, 325 ILCS 5 (Section 4: persons required to report): https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1460&ChapterID=32
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, reporting child abuse and mandated reporter training: https://dcfs.illinois.gov/
- DCFS Mandated Reporter Training resources: https://sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/Content/Resources/MandatedReporterTraining.aspx
- DCFS mandated reporter training site (older address, which may redirect to the DCFS learning center): https://mr.dcfstraining.org/