An investigation conducted by Child Protective Services (CPS) confirmed that 65,948 children in Texas were abused in 2011. These included children who were victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, abandonment, medical neglect, physical neglect, and neglectful supervision.
The after-effects of child abuse and neglect can scar the child for life and can come in the forms of physical, psychological, behavioral, mental, behavioral, spiritual and societal consequences. So, as an adult, it’s your moral obligation to notify the authorities if you have reason to suspect that a child is being abused.
Learn About PTSD and Child Abuse
How To Report Child Abuse in Texas?
If you suspect abuse or neglect of the child by someone responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child or someone who lives in the home with the child, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is the agency to call. To report to DFPS, you can call their toll-free abuse hotline at 1-800-252-5400 from anywhere in the United States. On the other hand, if the abuser is an outsider, you can call 911 and lodge a complaint to any local or state law enforcement agency.
Note: When reporting child abuse, make sure you have all your facts ready. Make thorough notes of all details like names, dates, and all relevant details of what you may have witnessed, like marks on the child's body. This will allow authorities to respond faster to help the child.
The important thing is to report… Always!
It’s quite normal if you hesitate to report what you think is child abuse, fearing that you could be wrong or that your complaint may cause unnecessary trouble for others. Or it could be that the adults in question are your friends, family members or neighbors, and you worry because you know that your telephone call to the relevant authorities will cause a lot of tension. In such cases, always remember that what you are doing is in the best interest of the child, and if the little one is being subjected to abuse, then he or she must be saved. Also, the Texas Family Code requires people working in a wide range of occupations to immediately make a report if they suspect that a child has been abused or neglected. This law is found in sections 261.101 and 261.109 of the Family Code, and may be located with a quick online search.
Contact a Texas Child Abuse Lawyer Today
Do you know any victim of child sexual abuse? Call our experienced Dallas-Fort Worth child abuse attorneys for advice. Our experienced lawyers at Samples Ames PLLC are well-versed with how to protect children who have been abused or neglected and hold the wrongdoer accountable. We can be reached via text or voice at 469-466-2600, or you can send an email to [email protected]
