Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
Emergencies
- If this is a life threatening or emergency situation, call your local law enforcement agency or 911 immediately.
|
- 1-800-252-5400
Call our Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide.
- www.txabusehotline.org
Make your report through our secure website and you will receive a response within 24 hours.
We cannot accept e-mail reports of suspected abuse or neglect.
|
Got Questions About Reporting?
|
Hearing Impaired or Speech Disabled
- People who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-disabled may report by using a TTY and accessing Relay Texas by dialing 711 or 1-800-735-2989. The Abuse Hotline is 1-800-252-5400, or a report may be made on the Internet at www.txabusehotline.org
|
Legal Definitions of Abuse
|
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a central place to report:
- Child abuse and neglect
- Abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home
- Abuse of children in child-care facilities or treatment centers
- Abuse of adults and children in state facilities or helped by programs for people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. These are run by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
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. A person who reports abuse in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability. DFPS keeps the name of the person making the report confidential. Anyone who does not report suspected abuse can be held liable for a misdemeanor or felony. Time frames for investigating reports are based on severity of allegations. Reporting suspected child abuse makes it possible for a family to get help.
Agency Jurisdictions and Other Hotline Numbers
Adult Protective Services (APS) Facility Investigations
APS investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities that care for adults including:
Private homes
- Adult foster homes (with 3 or fewer people)
- Unlicensed room and board homes
- State facilities and community centers for people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities
- Home health agency staff
- Exploitation in nursing homes when the alleged perpetrator is someone outside the facility
Abuse Hotline for APS Facility Investigations
1-800-647-7418
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, private ICF/MR, adult day care
Complaints (reports of abuse):
1-800-458-9858
Nursing Home Information:
1-800-252-8016
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Hospitals, psychiatric hospitals (including private psychiatric facilities), and various other medical facilities
Complaints:
1-888-973-0022
Texas Council on Family Violence
Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-7233
(1-800-799-SAFE)
1-800-787-3224 (TDD)
|
