Welcome

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services created this site as a resource for parents, professionals, and communities to support child abuse prevention and public awareness efforts.

Feel free to copy the files on this site. Please credit us by citing: “Provided by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Prevention and Early Intervention services.”

Child abuse is a community issue. Every person can help make sure the children of Texas have a brighter future. And preventing child abuse is up to all of us. Child abuse prevention means stopping child abuse and neglect before it happens. The best strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect are to:

• Support families and provide parents with the skills and resources they need.
• Support providers who are serving families by providing tools and resources.
• Create communities that have supportive services in place and a shared goal of safety and stability for families.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Texas communities make child abuse prevention a priority

Child abuse is a sickness that gnaws at the very fabric of our society and, as with any disease, prevention is more effective than attempting a cure. That’s why the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is teaming up with local governments and community groups across Texas in a call to action against child abuse. During the month of April, DFPS is participating in events statewide.

In a proclamation, Governor Rick Perry encouraged all Texans to join him in renewing their commitment to preventing child abuse and learning what to do to promote the safety and well-being of children. President Obama has issued a proclamation stating that Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time, "we renew our unwavering commitment to protecting children and responding to child abuse, promoting healthy families, and building a brighter future for all Americans."

Last year, 280 Texas children died because of abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents or guardians, and 68,326 children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect. On any given day, there were more than 17,000 Texas children and teenagers in foster care.

We can all reduce child abuse and its terrible toll by accepting that abuse happens and by taking action when we can. Listen to what children are saying, observe and recognize the signs of child abuse, and don’t assume someone else will do something. It's up to you!

Read more: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Featured Prevention Resource

2010 Calendar Out of Stock, Available for Download The 2010 Prevention Calendar “The Parenting Safari: A Guide to the Journey of a Lifetime” is available for FREE download here!  It features artwork from Delightful-Doodles and includes useful information such as: Dealing with your child's anger Handling sibling rivalry How to teach your child about fair play How to have a successful outing, and Creating a safe sleep environment for your baby Unfortunately, we are out of hard copies of the calendar, but if you have questions about ordering the 2011 calendar, please e-mail preventioncalendar@dfps.state.tx.us.   For more information about the 2010 Prevention Calendar or to give us your feedback, please take our survey.

Safe Sleep For Babies Poster

Why is safe sleep important? Placing babies in a safe sleep position is very important to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or “crib death.” When a baby, usually between the ages of 1-12 months old dies suddenly without a clear cause, the death is often referred to as SIDS.

Download a free copy by clicking the picture.