HB 4694

Amends the Children's Advocacy Center Act. Provides that Multidisciplinary Team Members shall work together, share information, and maintain confidentiality throughout the investigative process. Provides that Multidisciplinary Team members shall coordinate, communicate, and keep nonoffending parents, caregivers, and their families aware of the status of child abuse investigations. Provides that Children's Advocacy Centers shall be (rather than may be) established to coordinate the activities of the various agencies involved in the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child maltreatment. Provides that every Child Advocacy Center shall include a multidisciplinary systems approach that includes all Multidisciplinary Team members as equal partners in the investigation of child maltreatment. Provides that an investigation into child maltreatment shall include a comprehensive interagency notification procedure for all Multidisciplinary Team partners. Provides that the investigation shall also include a policy that mandates every Multidisciplinary Team member has access to records related to every child abuse investigation and that ensures all information is shared in a confidential manner. Provides that the Children's Advocacy Center of Illinois shall convene an annual meeting of statewide leadership from each MDT discipline to review data, discuss and analyze findings, and work collaboratively to identify service gaps and opportunities for process improvement. Provides the Children's Advocacy Center of Illinois shall create a report that summarizes the discussion at the annual meeting. Requires the Children's Advocacy Center of Illinois to share the report with the leadership of MDT partners and other agencies. Makes other changes.