(325 ILCS 5/11.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 2061.5)

Sec. 11.5. Public awareness program.

(a) No later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Department of Children and Family Services shall develop culturally sensitive materials on child abuse and child neglect, the statewide toll-free telephone number established under Section 7.6, and the process for reporting any reasonable suspicion of child abuse or child neglect.

The Department shall reach out to businesses and organizations to seek assistance in raising awareness about child abuse and child neglect and the statewide toll-free telephone number established under Section 7.6, including posting notices. The Department shall make a model notice available for download on the Department's website. The model notice shall:

(1) be available in English, Spanish, and the 2 other languages most widely spoken in the State;

(2) be at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in size and written in a 16-point font;

(3) include the following statement:

"Protecting children is a responsibility we all share. It is important for every person to take child abuse and child neglect seriously, to be able to recognize when it happens, and to know what to do next. If you have reason to believe a child you know is being abused or neglected, call the State's child abuse hotline"; and

(4) include the statewide toll-free telephone number established under Section 7.6, and the Department's website address where more information about child abuse and child neglect is available.

(b) Within the appropriation available, the Department shall conduct a continuing education and training program for State and local staff, persons and officials required to report, the general public, and other persons engaged in or intending to engage in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The program shall be designed to encourage the fullest degree of reporting of known and suspected child abuse and neglect, and to improve communication, cooperation, and coordination among all agencies in the identification, prevention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The program shall inform the general public and professionals of the nature and extent of child abuse and neglect and their responsibilities, obligations, powers and immunity from liability under this Act. It may include information on the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect and the roles and procedures of the Child Protective Service Unit, the Department and central register, the courts and of the protective, treatment, and ameliorative services available to children and their families. Such information may also include special needs of persons at risk of delivering a child whose life or development may be threatened by a disabling condition, to ensure informed consent to treatment of the condition and understanding of the unique child care responsibilities required for such a child. The program may also encourage parents and other persons having responsibility for the welfare of children to seek assistance on their own in meeting their child care responsibilities and encourage the voluntary acceptance of available services when they are needed. It may also include publicity and dissemination of information on the existence and number of the 24 hour, State-wide, toll-free telephone service to assist persons seeking assistance and to receive reports of known and suspected abuse and neglect.

(c) Within the appropriation available, the Department also shall conduct a continuing education and training program for State and local staff involved in investigating reports of child abuse or neglect made under this Act. The program shall be designed to train such staff in the necessary and appropriate procedures to be followed in investigating cases which it appears may result in civil or criminal charges being filed against a person. Program subjects shall include but not be limited to the gathering of evidence with a view toward presenting such evidence in court and the involvement of State or local law enforcement agencies in the investigation. The program shall be conducted in cooperation with State or local law enforcement agencies, State's Attorneys and other components of the criminal justice system as the Department deems appropriate.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)