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Reporting Child Abuse

Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation

If you suspect child abuse, Texas law requires you to report this within 48 hours of the outcry or suspicion. The individual who suspects the abuse must be the one who reports the abuse. If a student at Anna Middle School makes an outcry to you as a friend, neighbor, church family member, relative, teacher, or other school employee, you are the one who MUST contact DFPS. Also, if you are one of these listed above and just suspect the abuse, you cannot just report this to the school counselor or an administrator. You MUST make the report.

There are two ways to report abuse to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. You can call, or you can fill out an online report form. If it is an emergency and the child is injured or in eminent danger, you must call. If you suspect abuse or the child tells you that abuse is happening but the child is not currently in eminent danger, you can use the online report form.

Hotline # is 1-800-252-5400

The online report can be found at www.dfps.state.tx.us. You will be required to set up an account, but the information you provide will be anonymous to everyone except the officials who receive the report. They will not divulge your name to the accused.
Some common information you are asked for is:

Even if you don’t know some of the above information, you should still fill out the form. Give them as much information as you can, and don’t worry about the information you don’t know.

Once you have notified DFPS either by phone or online report, it is fine to notify a school counselor or administrator. However, this is not a requirement.

  • Child’s name, age, and address
  • Where the child attends school
  • Primary caretaker’s name, address and phone number
  • Physical and/or behavioral indicators told or observed
  • Your name, position, and contact information