Brazoria County Alliance for Children - BCAC
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Awareness

​Texas Family Code (261.101)

Texas Family Code (261.101) states that a person having cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect must report immediately. Failure to report is punishable by imprisonment for up to 180 days and/or a fine up to $2000 call 800-252-5400.  
Full Texas Family Code Link

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the different types of abuse?
​A: EMOTIONAL / VERBAL ABUSE – A pattern of maltreatment of a child which results in impaired psychological health, growth and development. Chronic pattern of belittlement impacting a child’s self worth or esteem, or withholding any positive attention or support. This can occur by itself, or with physical and sexual abuse. This is by far the most difficult form of abuse to substantiate and may require professional evidence of harm to the child.
​NEGLECT – A condition in which a parent or caretaker denies the child their basic needs such as adequate food, clothing, medical care, or shelter. This is done either deliberately or through chronic disregard thus causing the child to experience avoidable suffering or fails to provide essential ingredients for developing physically, intellectually, socially, or emotionally.
​PHYSICAL – A form of abuse that results in physical injury or injuries to the child by a parent or caretaker that are not by accidental means. While the caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child the injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical punishment. It may have been inflicted by the hand or with the use of objects. Examples include bruises, welts, fractures, burns, cuts, and internal injuries.
​SEXUAL – The sexual exploitation of a child from exhibitionism and fondling to oral sex and intercourse. Sexual abuse may also be committed by a person under the age of eighteen when that person is older and or in a position of power and control over the other child. There are two forms of sexual abuse: active abuse, where the older person actually exploits the child; and passive abuse, where a person takes no action when he/she is aware that the child is being abused and therefore allows the abuse to continue. Few children speak directly about sexual abuse and in most cases there is no medical evidence of the abuse.It is important to note that there may be considerable overlap between the categories of abuse. Many children who are sexually abused are probably also emotionally neglected by at least one parent. The child who is physically neglected is likely to be emotionally neglected also.
Q: What are some indicators of abuse?
​A: Unexplained injuries
Changes in behavior
Fear of going home
Changes in diet or sleep
Changes in school performance
Lack of personal hygiene or care
Risk-taking behavior
Inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge
Q: How do I report abuse?

EVERYONE MUST REPORT ABUSE. For Intervention to take place for the child, every person in that child’s life must act as an advocate for their well being.

IT IS THE LAW: TEXAS FAMILY CODE 261.101 defines that if you have cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person you are required by law to make a report. Failure to report is punishable by imprisonment for up to 180 days and/or a fine up to $2000.Call 1-800-252-5400 or Local Law Enforcement or www.txabusehotline.org

Know the following information:Child’s Name, and age, date of birth if you have it, address, school they attend, social security number if you know it, name of child’s parents and their work places, names and ages of siblings living in the child’s home, details of the incident you saw or the information reported to you, be able to describe any injuries that you see and where they are located, be prepared to give your relationship to the child and how Child Protective Services can contact you.

Effective September 1, 2023, DFPS cannot accept anonymous reports of abuse and neglect involving children and their families. Professional and non-professional reporters must provide a personal first and last name and home or business phone number to meet new reporting requirements. The law requires both a full name and phone number for the report to be accepted by DFPS. Reporting requirements are not met by providing a business, agency, or organizational name. Anonymous reports of child abuse and neglect may be made to local and state law enforcement agencies. Reporters’ names are confidential by law.

If you learn more information regarding a case you can always call back and add that information to the report.

Q: What do I do if a child makes an outcry of abuse?

Remain calm

Believe the child

Allow the child to talk to you

Show concern and interest

Support and reassure the child

Take action by reporting, this could save the child’s life.

Don’t panic, press the child to talk, confront the offender, minimize the child’s feelings, blame the child, promise anything you can’t control, or overwhelm the child with questions.

Training Opportunities

Brazoria County Alliance for Children offers multiple training and outreach modules to collaborative partners, school districts, daycare centers, churches, civic and community organizations and community members on the following subjects:

  • Child Abuse Prevention
  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
  • First Responder/Multi-disciplinary Team Training
  • Internet Safety

All trainings are free of charge and can be held at your facility.
Please request trainings by contact us bcac@cac-bc.org.