Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention

Dallas ISD Child Abuse

Help Line: 888-572-2873

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

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REPORTING

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is the agency to call if the suspected abuse or neglect involves a person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child or someone who lives in the home with the child. Child Protective Services (CPS), a division of DFPS, is responsible for conducting civil investigations of alleged abuse or neglect by caregivers or household members. You may also report suspected abuse or neglect to any local or state law enforcement agency.

Dallas ISD employees must report all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect immediately. The failure to report by any person with such knowledge constitutes a Class A Misdemeanor. (Texas Family Code, Section 261.109)

INVESTIGATING

It is the responsibility of the Department of Family and Protective Services to conduct investigations. A report must be made as soon as the District employee has pertinent information concerning the alleged or suspected abuse or neglect. It is the Child Protective Services' (CPS) position that school personnel should not investigate allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect as doing so may interfere with a criminal investigation. Investigative tactics include gathering statements from students and staff members or others.

Law enforcement agencies are responsible for criminal investigations, which focus on figuring out who committed a crime. Typically, these cases involve children who appear to face immediate risk of physical or sexual abuse.

CPS investigations focus on the welfare of the child and family in civil court matters.

CPS and Law Enforcement will often conduct joint investigations.

Administrative investigations - may be conducted as directed by the Professional Standards Office in DISD with cases that involve District employees but, these investigations will not commence until CPS has made a ruling on the allegation.

Please visit REPORT CHILD ABUSE to ensure the proper procedures for reporting Child Abuse in Dallas ISD are followed and visit Investigations for more information regarding Child Protective Investigations.

Catrina Mitchell

Coordinator

Child Abuse Office

2909 N. Buckner Blvd.

Dallas, TX 75228

CATMITCHELL@dallasisd.org

Follow us on Twitter @YouthOutrDISD

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Please visit Prevent Child Abuse America at http://preventchildabuse.org for resources and research on preventing Child Abuse.

2019 Prevention Resource Guide STRONG AND THRIVING FAMILIES.

The Resource Guide was created primarily to support community-based child abuse prevention professionals who work to prevent child maltreatment and promote well-being. The guide includes detailed information about six protective factors for preventing child maltreatment and tips and examples for infusing them into programs and directive practice with families and children. It also includes stregths-based tip sheets on specific parenting topics that can be used in discussions or visits with caregivers.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH

Dallas Police Family Violence Unit for victims of Domestic / Family Violence 214-671-4325 in English and 214-671-4307 in Spanish

Domestic Violence or abuse is committed by one person against another in a domestic setting such as in marriage. Domestic violence can also involve violence against children, parents, or the elderly. It takes a number of forms, including physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse.

Domestic violence often occurs when the abuser believes that abuse is an entitlement, acceptable, justified, or unlikely to be reported.

Quick Links

Dallas ISD Psychological and Social Services

Dallas ISD Youth and Family Centers

Dallas ISD Homeless Education Office

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
HELPFUL RESOURCES

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Genesis Women's Shelter and Support

National Domestic Violence Hotline

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

Texas Council On Family Violence

City of Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force

Outlast Youth

the family place

Mosaic Family Services and 24 hour Hotline: 214-823-4434
EMERGENCY CHILD ABUSE SITUATIONS
Emergency Situations are those where a child, adult with disabilities, or person who is elderly faces an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in death or serious harm. The internet reporting system http://www.txabusehotline.org should NOT be used in urgent or emergency situations, including but not limited to the following:
- Serious Injuries
- Injuries to a child 5 years or younger
- Immediate need for medical care (including a suicidal child)
- Sexual abuse where the perpetrator has access, or will have access, to the child within the next 24 hours
- Chidren age five and under are alone or are likely to be left alone within the next 24 hours
- Any other situation which requires a response in less than 24 hours.
Reports to the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (CPS) can be made 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All reports are kept confidential and may be anonymous.

For more information on reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect of a Child visit the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
FAQ
HELPFUL LINKS

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

DALLAS CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER

Forensic Services, Advocacy, Therapy, Community Education

HELP AND HOPE

Texas Department of Family and Protective Service Prevention Website

DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Resources and Education on Sexual Abuse of Children

CACTX

Membership of 69 local Children's Advocacy Centers, advocacy, community awareness

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN

Amber Alert Program, Cyber Tip Line, resources, child safety and prevention, NeSmartz Workshop, victim and family support
INVESTIGATIONS

Interference with Investigation

Family Code 261.303 A person may not interfere with an investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect conducted by The Department of Family and Protective Services.

Furthermore, employees are warned not to engage in investigative work related to their suspicions.

Any attempt by a district employee to investigate a child abuse allegation could seriously compromise the investigation conducted by the proper authorities including, but not limited to, criminal investigations. When responding to an outcry, let the child use his or her own words to tell you what happened, but leave the detailed questioning to the professionals. This is critical to ensuring the integrity of any investigation and minimizing additional trauma to the child.

Interview of the Student -

The investigating agency shall be permitted to interview the child at any reasonable time and place, including at the child's school.

Please visit DFPS Investigations for more information related to child abuse investigations
LEGAL POLICIES
MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE RESOURCES

FEBRUARY IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE MONTH

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474

Teen Dating Violence is the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another person in a dating relationship.

TRAINING

All secondary campuses must complete Teen Dating Violence as part of their mandated training. For information on how to access the Teen Dating Violence compliance training video, please contact Jennell Johnson-Polk at JenJohnson@dallasisd.org

GUIDANCE LESSONS

All secondary counselors present awareness and prevention lessons every year to all 7th - 12th Grade students. In addition to the lessons many of the counselors coordinate activities during the month of February, including educating staff to highlight the critical issue. For more information about the guidance lessons provided by the counselors, please visit the Student Engagement and Counseling Services webpage.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

The Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Office partners with the Office of Family and Community Engagement to provide parent workshops on Teen Dating Violence through the Prep University Workshop Series for Families. For more information about PREP U, please visit the Dallas ISD Office of Family and Community Engagement Office

HELPFUL ORGANIZATIONS

LOVE IS RESPECT

BREAK THE CYCLE

TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE

YOUTH.GOV
TEXAS ABUSE HOTLINE
TRAFFICKING
WHAT IS ABUSE / NEGLECT?
- Physical Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Neglect
Information from Dallas Children's Advocacy Center on Signs and Symptoms

How the DFPS Defines Abuse and Neglect

It is the Child Protective Services' (CPS) position that school personnel should not investigate allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect. This is a Department of Family and Protective Services's responsibility. As soon as the school employee has pertinent information concerning the alleged or suspected abuse or neglect, a report must be made.