Texas Daycare Abuse Lawsuit Attorneys

What Is Considered Child Abuse?

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) estimates more than 68,000 children were abused in 2021. Some of those children were abused at daycares, summer camps, and after-school programs by the very people working parents trust to take care of their children. The signs of abuse are not always obvious, or children may not be able to tell you what is happening. However, our daycare abuse attorney emphasizes that knowing what to look out for and ask about can make spotting abuse easier.

The state of Texas defines child abuse as “physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child.”

That includes caregivers hitting, kicking, shoving, punching, and slapping children. In some cases, improper discipline can be abuse. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Minimum Standards, caregivers are not allowed to use any harsh, cruel, or unusual treatments, including corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment. Caregivers are also prohibited from hitting, pinching, shaking, or biting a child.

Abuse doesn’t have to be physical. An action that causes mental or emotional injury to a child is also considered abuse under Texas law. THHS Minimum Standards prohibit punishment associated with food, naps, or potty training. Caregivers are not allowed to humiliate, ridicule, reject, or yell at a child, or subject them to harsh, abusive, or profane language. Children cannot be locked in a dark room, bathroom, or closet.

Even if a person is not actively abusing a child, they can still face charges for not taking reasonable steps to prevent or stop a child from being abused. Regardless of the type of abuse, children can face long-term consequences of abuse, whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological.