Public Accountability Report Public Accountability Report

2025 Protective Services
Mission Statement This program protects children who are reported to be abused and neglected by assuring their safety in making service provision, placement, and permanency planning decisions; by licensing foster homes, group homes, child-care institutions, and day-care facilities; and by enhancing their families' capacity to safely care for them. It also provides for the well-being of children in our care, supports early intervention and child abuse prevention activities, and works in partnership with communities to fulfill this mission.
Program Goals and Objectives
  1. Reports of child abuse/neglect will be investigated promptly, safety will be ensured, and subsequent abuse/neglect will be prevented.
    1. Increase child safety after agency involvement.
      1. Improve responsiveness of the child abuse and neglect hotline.
        Source of Funds General Revenue Fund, DCFS Children's Services Fund, DCFS Federal Projects Fund Statutory Authority Children and Family Services Act
        Fiscal Year 2026 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2025 Actual Fiscal Year 2025 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2024 Actual Fiscal Year 2023 Actual
        Input Indicators
        Total expenditures - all sources (in thousands) $ 310,975.4 $ 254,420.4 $ 278,726.2 $ 236,605.4 $ 188,679.0
        Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) $ 310,975.4 $ 254,420.4 $ 278,726.2 $ 236,605.4 $ 188,679.0
        Average monthly full-time equivalents 1,728.0 1,651.0 1,681.0 1,547.0 1,350.0
        Output Indicators
        Hotline calls 243,087 238,169 239,412 234,527 235,827
        Family reports investigated 64,866 74,339 91,898 91,080 89,813
        Children investigated 102,060 117,323 148,000 147,203 145,396
        Outcome Indicators
        Number of indicated family reports 12,555 18,493 21,050 20,380 20,224
        Percentage of investigations indicated 19.40% 24.90% 22.80% 22.40% 22.50%
        Percentage of investigations initiated within 24 hours 99.70% 99.70% 99.50% 99.40% 99.50%
        Percentage of investigations completed on time 99.90% 99.90% 99.90% 99.90% 99.80%
        Percentage of children who do not experience subsequent abuse or neglect within six months of a prior indicated report 92.30% 91.70% 91.10% 90.80% 91.10%
        Percentage of State Central Registry Hotline calls that were answered the first time or had a message taken 99.70% 97.00% 99.70% 99.70% 99.80%
        Percentage of children receiving forensic interviews that are completed and recorded on site at Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) 99.20% 98.80% 98.90% 98.90% 98.70%
        Percentage of parents/caregivers who report via a post-service survey that the CACs facilitated healing for the child 94.30% 92.80% 93.90% 92.40% 95.10%

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