Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
Emergencies
- If this is a life threatening or emergency situation, call your local law enforcement agency or 911 immediately.
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- 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 web site and you will receive a response within 24 hours.
- We cannot accept e-mail reports of suspected abuse or neglect.
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Got Questions About Reporting?
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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
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Legal Definitions of Abuse
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The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) offers a central location to report:
- child abuse and neglect,
- elderly or adults with disabilities abuse, neglect, or exploitation,
- abuse of children in licensed child-care facilities or treatment centers for the entire State of Texas,
- abuse of clients served by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) employees in State Hospitals or State Schools.
The law requires any person who believes that a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited to report the circumstances to DFPS. A person making a report is immune from civil or criminal liability provided they make the report in good faith, and the name of the person making the report is kept confidential. Any person suspecting abuse and not reporting it can be held liable for a Class B misdemeanor. 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 consumers), unlicensed room and board, state facilities and community centers that provide mental health and mental retardation services, 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)
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