WBEZ | child abuse

90 Illinois children died of neglect, abuse in 2012

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:26:00 -0600

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services says neglect and abuse killed 90 children in the state last year and almost half were infants who died in unsafe sleeping conditions.

Department spokesman Dave Clarkin said Thursday the total could rise. More than 60 2012 death investigations are still pending.

Clarkin says 40 of the children were infants who suffocated while sleeping with parents, with blankets or on their stomachs. All of those practices are dangerous.

Clarkin says the department has worked hard to warn young mothers but now needs to try to reach grandmothers. He says young moms overwhelmingly go to their own mothers for parenting advice.

Homicides were the second-largest category of deaths. Twenty-two of the neglect and abuse deaths were homicides.

Illinois announces upgrade to child abuse hotline

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:25:00 -0600

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois' child welfare agency has launched a new computerized child abuse hotline in response to complaints its old system was failing to handle the volume of calls.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services announced the new $474,000 system Wednesday.

The department received more than 250,000 calls last year, but a majority of the callers didn't immediately reach a child abuse expert and had to be called back.

The department's new director, Richard Calica, says the hotline's problems meant unacceptable delays in sending investigators out into the field and getting help to children and families. Calica says replacing the old hotline is a smart investment.

The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free number is 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873).