2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 225 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS › 225 ILCS 420/ - Child Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987.

(225 ILCS 420/1) (from Ch. 111, par. 7651)
Sec. 1. 
		
		This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Child Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/2) (from Ch. 111, par. 7652)
Sec. 2. 
		
		As used in this Act, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section:
(a) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
(b) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services.
(c) "Child Protective Investigator" means any person qualified as such
pursuant to this Act.
(d) "Child Welfare Specialist" means any person qualified as such pursuant to this Act.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 7653)
Sec. 3. 
		
		The Department shall certify as a qualified child protective
investigator or child welfare specialist, each applicant for the respective
certification who proves to the satisfaction of the
Department his fitness to be certified under the terms of this Act. It
shall continue to issue to each person a certified status document, which
shall be prima facie evidence of the right of the person to whom it is
issued to present himself as a certified child protective investigator or a
certified child welfare specialist, as the case may be,
subject to the conditions and limitations of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 7654)
Sec. 4. 
		
		The Department, with the cooperation of any community colleges
or public entities located in this State, which the Department requests to
assist it, shall develop guidelines or criteria for educational and
professional requirements and a curriculum in child protection
investigation and child welfare services.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 7655)
Sec. 5. 
		
		In addition to the requirements of Section 4, a person shall
be qualified to be certified if he or she:
(a) has passed an examination approved by the Department to determine
his fitness to perform the duties of or otherwise function as a child
protective investigator or child welfare specialist;
(b) is at least 18 years of age;
(c) has completed the curriculum of study or training, developed
pursuant to Section 4, at the Department, college or other institution that
is approved to do business in this State; and
(d) has a bachelor's degree in an area related to human services such as
law enforcement, police science, criminology, social work, early childhood
development or psychology,
provided that this subsection (d) shall not apply to persons employed by
the Department prior to the effective date of this Act.
The Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of
the applicant, but such conviction shall not operate automatically as a
complete bar to certification.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/6) (from Ch. 111, par. 7656)
Sec. 6. 
		
		Whoever desires to obtain certification as a child protective
investigator or child welfare specialist shall apply to the Department in
writing, on forms prepared
and furnished by the State of Illinois. Each application shall contain
proof of the particular qualifications required of the applicant and shall
be verified by the applicant under oath or affirmation.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/7) (from Ch. 111, par. 7657)
Sec. 7. 
		
		The Department shall give a written examination to qualified
applicants for certified status.
Any applicant failing the examination may not be certified but shall be
allowed to reapply.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/8) (from Ch. 111, par. 7658)
Sec. 8. 
		
		The Department shall formulate such rules and regulations, not
inconsistent with law, as are necessary to carry out the purposes and
provisions of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 85-206.)
(225 ILCS 420/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 7659)
Sec. 9. 
		
		(a) The Department may refuse to certify, or may revoke,
suspend, place on probation, censure, reprimand or take other disciplinary
action against a certification status in accordance with grievance and due
process procedures applicable to existing collective bargaining agreements
for any of the following reasons:
(1) material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department;
(2) willfully violating this Act, or of the rules promulgated thereunder;
(3) conviction of any crime under the laws of the United States or any
state or territory thereof which is a felony or which is a misdemeanor, an
essential element of which is dishonesty, or of any crime which is directly
related to the duties of a child protective investigator or a child welfare
specialist;
(4) making any misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining certification;
(5) having demonstrated incompetence to act as a child protective
investigator or child welfare specialist in such a manner as to endanger
the safety of the public;
(6) willfully aiding or assisting another person in violating any
provisions of this Act or rules;
(7) engaging in unethical or unprofessional conduct of a
character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public;
(8) willfully making or filing false records or reports in the capacity
of a child protective investigator or child welfare specialist, including
but not limited to false
records filed with the State agencies or department;
(9) physical or mental deterioration which results in the inability to
perform the duties of the profession with reasonable judgment, skill or
safety as determined by a qualified physician;
(10) gross negligence;
(11) accepting commissions or rebates or other forms of remuneration for
referring persons to other professionals, persons or institutions, during
the course of duties.
(b) The determination by a circuit court that a certified child
protective investigator or child welfare specialist is subject to
involuntary admission or judicial
admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Code, as now or hereafter amended, operates as an automatic suspension.
Such suspension will end only upon a release of the patient from
such
involuntary admission or judicial admission.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)