Most of the time, the behavior you report to the caseworker will involve children acting out sexually toward other children. When you report this behavior to the caseworker or DCFS Hotline, the caseworker or hotline staff  person makes an “unusual incident” report to DCFS. If the sexual acting out constitutes a criminal act, the police will be notified. Legal action can be taken as needed and appropriate. 

Criteria for Identifying a Sexual Behavior Problem 

Sexual behavior problem is very simply defined: children or youth who exhibit sexual behavior that is unusual or unexpected for their age or who have acted out sexually. The term describes a broad range of behaviors including those that are and those that are not harmful to others.

Children with sexual behavior problems may exhibit “no contact” behaviors, where they have not touched anyone else, or  “hands-on” behaviors like fondling another child, rubbing against them, or simulating intercourse. Without treatment, the child may progress to more problematic sexual behaviors like tricking or bribing other children and, in rare cases, forcing them to engage in sex. Once you have reported the behavior to the child’s caseworker, the child will be referred to a treatment provider specializing in children’s behavior problems or disorders.  The treatment provider will be able to give you detailed information about the nature of the problem, the level of supervision the child needs and the issues that will be addressed in treatment. 

DCFS Policy: Safety 

Within 24 hours of the report of the sexual misbehavior, the child’s caseworker will conduct a review of the incident, the child’s need for supervision and whether other younger, smaller, less able children in the home might be at risk.  In many cases, the sexual behaviors go away aft er four to five months of treatment.  

In order to protect all children, the department requires the following: 

• the child with sexual behavior problems should not share a bedroom with other children who may be vulnerable;  
• the caseworker must develop a written plan for supervision describing how the child will be supervised and who is responsible; and 
• the caregiver must evaluate his or her ability to provide the child with an appropriate level of supervision. 

A written plan for supervision will be completed by the caseworker within 24 hours of receiving the Unusual Incident Report, and will describe: 

• how the child will be supervised during contact with other children or possibly vulnerable persons; and 
• how others will be informed of the child’s behavior problem, on a “need-to-know” basis, and in keeping with confidentiality requirements. 

While the caseworker is responsible for developing the plan for supervision, others must also be involved: the child, if age 12 or older; the primary caregiver; the caseworker’s supervisor; the DCFS sexual behavior specialist; the counselor, if the child is already receiving treatment; and others responsible for supervision of the child. Every person involved in making the plan for supervision will receive a copy of it. 

Staffing: Determining Services 

Within three weeks of the report to the DCFS hotline and the completion of the unusual incident report to DCFS, there will be a multidisciplinary staffing to evaluate the child’s behavior and treatment needs from a developmental perspective.  The department requires the participation of others who know the child, such as the caseworker, the foster caregivers and therapist, if there is one.  As appropriate, children over the age of 12 may be asked to participate.

Services and Treatment 

If a determination is made at the staffing that a child’s behavior needs further evaluation or that the child has treatment needs, the caseworker will make the referral for clinical services as recommended at the staffing such as those provided by a psychologist or a social worker. Usually, the first step is an orientation for evaluation and treatment, which will occur within 15 days of the date of referral. This is an informal meeting, and it should include discussion with the child, the parent/s, caregivers, caseworker and anyone the child considers to be important in his life. 

Treatment begins with an evaluation of the child’s overall functioning. There will be tests and interviews with the child to determine treatment needed, and a plan will be developed. The goal is for the child to “successfully” complete treatment. 

Most people consider treatment of the behavior problem “successful” when the child no longer exhibits the behavior. 

If the Child Moves to a New Foster Family 

The caseworker will give the new caregivers information about the child’s sexual behavior problem. The department requires caseworkers to inform foster parents of all such problems. It also requires the caregiver to sign a new plan for supervision.

Confidentiality 

The child’s plan for supervision will list the adults responsible for supervising the child. These persons could include school personnel, child care providers, church staff , recreational leaders and others who have a need to know. The caseworker (not the caregiver) is responsible for informing others who need to know about the child’s behavior problem and his or her need for supervision. DCFS’ Guardian or designee must give signed consent for this information to be shared. Anyone who is informed of the child’s behavior problem will also be informed of confidentiality requirements, including not sharing the information with anyone else without the department’s consent.

If anyone responsible for the care and supervision of the child does not agree to provide appropriate supervision, other arrangements for the child will be made.