Child Abuse Reporting Home
Child Abuse Reporting
All employees with reasonable cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect, as defined by Texas Family Code §261.001, are required by state law to make a report to a law enforcement agency, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), or appropriate state agency (e.g., state agency operating, licensing, certifying, or registering the facility) within 24 hours after the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the child has been abused or neglected. Law enforcement agencies include the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a municipal police department, a county sheriff’s office, or a county constable’s office and does not include the district police.
A person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child (including a teacher) is required to report alleged abuse or neglect to DFPS even if a report is made to law enforcement.
Sexual Abuse and Maltreatment of Children
The district has established a plan for addressing sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children, which may be accessed at FFG (LOCAL): FFG — Student Welfare: Child Abuse and Neglect -CISD Board Policy .
As an employee, it is important for you to be aware of warning signs that could indicate a child may have been or is being sexually abused or maltreated. Abuse in the Texas Family Code is defined to include any sexual conduct harmful to a child’s mental, emotional, or physical welfare, including conduct that constitutes the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a young child or disabled individual, indecency with a child, improper relationship between an educator and a student, sexual assault, or encouraging a child to engage in sexual conduct, as well as a failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent sexual conduct with a child. Maltreatment is defined as abuse or neglect. Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been or may be abused or neglected has a legal responsibility under state law for reporting the suspected abuse or neglect following the procedures described above in Reporting Suspected Child Abuse.