Embedded Files
Abuse
Abuse
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a central place to report child abuse and neglect, or abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home.
If you suspect abuse or neglect of any kind, call the Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide, or report with the secure DFPS website and get a response within 24 hours.
Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory Reporting
School system personnel are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect, including the trafficking of a child, within 24 hours, per Texas Family Code §261.101. School system personnel may not delegate this duty or rely on another person to make the report. A report shall be made to:
any local or state law enforcement agency;
the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS*); or
the state agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers the facility in which the alleged abuse or neglect occurred.
If the matter to be reported potentially involves human trafficking, report it to district police, local or state law enforcement , and DFPS.
A report to DFPS is required if the alleged abuse or neglect involves a person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child.
In cases of emergency, please call 911.
Please be advised that Senate Bill 571, enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature and now in effect, amends Section 261.101 of the Texas Family Code to shorten the time frame for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
Effective immediately, a professional who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected must report that suspicion no later than 24 hours after the suspicion arises.
This is a change from the previous 48-hour deadline.
You may review the full text of SB 571 by clicking here. The change in reporting deadline is found in Section 1.30 of the bill.
Required Actions
Required Actions
Each Texas public school system must adopt and implement policies concerning sexual abuse, trafficking, and other maltreatment of children (this includes providing child abuse anti-victimization programs in elementary and secondary schools). Additionally, per TEC §28.004, each school entity must ensure that the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) gives recommendations for the appropriate grade level and instruction regarding child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking awareness curriculum and that parental rights and consent requirements are followed.
Student-facing posters that meet the requirements of 19 TAC §61.1051(e) and (f) must be posted in at least one high-traffic area (hallway, above a water fountain, gym, locker room, counselor's office, etc.) on every campus in both English and Spanish. The TEA, in partnership with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, has developed posters in English and Spanish that satisfy the requirements of 19 TAC §61.1051(e) and (f).
Each school shall post No Human Trafficking warning signs pertaining to the criminal offense of human trafficking at conspicuous places reasonably likely to be viewed by all persons entering the premises (TAC §61.1053(b)). TEA has three sample signs (based on location) that may be used directly or as a template for local development. See TEA’s Human Trafficking of School-Aged Children Webpage for more information.
Chapter 22 Subchapter C, of the Texas Education Code (TEC), requires school entities to ensure that certain individuals are fingerprinted to undergo a national criminal history records review and that other individuals undergo a name-based criminal history record information review. In addition, superintendents of districts and chief operating officers of public charter schools are required to certify annually that the district or charter school has complied with TEC, §22.085.
Texas school systems must, according to TEC §22.092(b), discharge or refuse to hire any individual listed on the Registry of Persons Ineligible for Employment in Public Schools (Do Not Hire Registry). The Registry is available to public and private schools for searching purposes.
Child Abuse
Child Abuse
As mandated reporters, educators and other school staff must remain informed on the topic of child abuse.
Child Abuse Prevention & Overview (Texas.gov)
Child Abuse Prevention--A Deep Dive Into Human Trafficking and TEA Efforts to Address It
Child Sex Trafficking in America: A Guide for Parents and Guardians
Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leveraging the Best Available Evidence
Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas Resources
TEA collaborated with the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) on the following resources:
A Texas School Employee’s Guide to Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (English and Spanish)
Child Abuse Hotline on an 11” X 17” poster (English and Spanish)
Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Resource Toolkit
Child Abuse Reporting
Child Abuse Reporting
Texas law says anyone who thinks a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to DFPS.
DFPS Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation pens external link in new window)
A Texas School Employee’s Guide to Reporting Suspected Abuse & Neglect
A new training course on recognizing and reporting child abuse or neglect is now live on the DFPS training site. It's designed for Texas professionals, including educators, medical professionals, and childcare providers. It provides valuable information that will assist them in deciding whether to make a report to the Texas Abuse Hotline. Registration: Follow the link to the course, enter your name and e-mail address, and begin the course. A certificate is provided upon completion.
Dating Violence
Dating Violence
Teachers, coaches, school personnel, youth leaders, and other youth-serving professionals play an important role in preventing teen dating violence. Everyone deserves healthy relationships.
Texas Education Code 37.0831 on Dating Violence Policies:
(a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252.
(b) A dating violence policy must:
(1) include a definition of dating violence that includes the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another person in a dating relationship, as defined by Section 71.0021, Family Code; and
(2) address safety planning, enforcement of protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected students, and awareness education for students and parents.
School Board Training
School Board Training
What does state mandate say about school board training?
Must receive one hour of training every two years that covers legal requirements, best practices, and district policy relating to sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children.
Training must be provided by a registered provider, authorized provider, or Lone Star Governance (LSG) coach. For more information, visit the TEA School Board Trustee Training Webpage.
Continuing Education requirements TEC 11.159 (c)
Staff Training
Staff Training
What does state mandate say about training staff about sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children?
Training must be provided to all new school employees and all other staff not previously trained on prevention techniques for and recognition of sexual abuse, trafficking and all other maltreatment of children, including the sexual abuse, trafficking and other maltreatment of children with significant cognitive disabilities. (*School systems have discretion on selecting what training(s) are used for this purpose.)
New employee contents TEC 38.0041 (c-f)dow)
The TEA Gateway Module is a training resource. Texas Gateway Module - TEA developed a free training module in the Texas Gateway called “Prevention and Awareness of School-Aged Human Trafficking” that can be used in coordination with existing child abuse prevention and mandatory reporting training to meet expanded educator training requirements on Human Trafficking.
Student Training
Student Training
What does state mandate say about training students?
Superintendent Training
Superintendent Training
What does state mandate say about superintendent training?
Effective September 1, 2019, an individual who holds a superintendent certificate that is renewed on or after January 1, 2021, must complete at least two and a half hours of training every five years on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, in accordance with TEC § 21.054(h).
For more information on approved training providers, visit Continuing Professional Education.
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