How does MERIT work?

Case referral criteria

  • Any child under the age of 18 years old suspected of being abused or neglected
  • Requests made by Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), emergency medicine physicians, primary care providers and law enforcement
  • Consults and/or second opinions from any Child Advocacy Center or other child protective services in the Northwest Illinois region

The process

  1. The MERIT case coordinator will receive requests for evaluation of suspected child abuse from DCFS, law enforcement, emergency medicine physicians and/or primary care providers. The coordinator will arrange for consults and second opinions from other CACs or DCFS investigators in the Northwest Illinois region.
  2. The MERIT coordinator will assign the case to one of the MERIT providers, who will collaborate with investigative and medical personnel as needed.
  3. Upon completion of the expert evaluation, the MERIT provider will review results of the evaluation with the appropriate parties.
  4. An expert medical opinion will be rendered as to the probability of an injury being accidental, caused by abuse or indeterminate in nature.
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Case Coordinator Heading link

2350 North Rockton Ave., Suite 204, Rockford, Illinois 61103, Illinois
Phone: (815) 395-8810