Educating employees on reporting requirements

All employees must complete an online training program next month after changes to a state law that make university personnel mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect of minors.

Employees will receive an email Monday with their log-on information to complete the online training program, which educates the campus about changes to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

“The law expanded the types of individuals who are now mandated reporters under the law,” said Maureen Parks, executive director and associate vice president of human resources.

“The law provides definitions of abuse and neglect. It’s up to us to educate our employees on what those standards are and when they should call the university police, or DCFS, or both.”

The training should take about 15 minutes and must be completed by April 1. Employees will receive reminders throughout the month of the deadline, Parks said.

Starting Thursday, new employees will complete the training as part of the NESSIE New Hire process. A paper-based training program will be given to employees without computer access in May, Parks said.

University employees who work primarily with minors already take a more in-depth training course on recognizing abuse and neglect in children and will continue those programs in addition to the online training, Parks said.

“The online training is really just an educational program to let you know what you should be aware of to recognize abuse and neglect and who to report it to,” she said.

“For those employees who interact with minors day-to-day, they already complete more expanded training through their unit and department as a best practice.”

Email questions to protectminors@uillinois.edu

christyb@uic.edu