What Constitutes Abuse in a Daycare?

Many parents place their trust in daycares to watch their children while they work to provide for their families. Having that trust broken by those caring for your children can be a terrible feeling. If you feel that your daycare is neglecting or abusing children, you may have legal recourse.

The steps to take in reporting a daycare vary depending on the severity of the actions. If you have a complaint about the facility’s practices (or lack thereof), you will handle the situation differently than if you suspect verbal or physical abuse.

For instance, a lack of cleanliness or concerns about a facility’s safety may warrant a complaint. But if your child has come home with evidence of physical abuse or you have witnessed children being abused in the daycare, you may be able to make a legal claim. Contacting our trusted attorneys can lead to clear answers about your specific situation, so reach out to us right away. Our team at Morgan Bourque Attorney at Law can assist you in determining how to protect your children and yourself. Call us today at 713-766-3733 to receive a free consultation.

How Do I Place a Complaint About a Daycare?

If the issue is relatively minor, such as inadequate sleeping facilities or cleanliness practices, you will probably consider filing a complaint. In these cases, there are a variety of state programs that could handle your request. Some of these are the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Child Protective Services (CPS), and Texas Health and Human Services (HHS).

In most cases, CPS is in charge of handling daycare reports. However, the Child Care Licensing program (CCL), which is a part of HHS, may also take your report. If you aren’t sure which department should handle your complaint, simply file the report to the best of your ability. If you submit the report to the wrong department, whoever receives the report will forward it to the correct location.

Then, gather information about the daycare and your child. Most reports will ask you to provide basic information like:

  • Your name and contact information
  • The name of the victim
  • Your relationship with the child
  • The name and address of the daycare facility
  • The name and contact information of the parents
  • A description of the incident or incidents

If the case merits a lawsuit, such as abuse, your attorney can help with this also. Be as descriptive about your complaint as possible, including details like dates, times, and witnesses. If the incident occurred on more than one occasion, include information about each separate incident. The more you can include in your report, the better chance you have of getting justice.

How Do I Report Abuse at a Daycare?

Recognizing the signs of abuse from a daycare center is essential. Cuts, bruises, and scrapes on your child could indicate they are being physically harmed, especially if the injuries are not explained by staff. Similarly, fear or reluctance from your child around certain staff members could indicate abuse. Sadness, aggression, anxiety, and other changes in behavior may also indicate that your child is being neglected or injured at daycare.

Gather any evidence of abuse, including photos, videos, and testimonies from other parents. You can use this evidence in your report to authorities or when taking legal action against the facility.

If your child has been abused or you suspect a daycare of child abuse, you may be able to bring a claim against the daycare provider. Your first priority should be to contact a personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will be able to answer your questions and provide representation in bringing a claim against the facility.

Daycare abuse can lead to lifelong struggles for the victims and their families. Please don’t suffer alone. Contact our attorneys for help finding justice in your daycare abuse claim.

How Can You Protect Your Child?

Discovering that your child may have been abused at daycare can be devastating. If you believe your child has been injured or harmed, immediately take steps to prioritize their safety. If the situation is severe, consider removing your child from that daycare facility altogether and research other programs that value safety and security. If you do remove your child from the facility, stay in contact with your personal injury attorney and the head of the daycare facility to ensure they are taking steps to make it safer.

Should You Hire Our Daycare Abuse Attorneys?

As a parent, you want to protect your child as much as possible. Sending them to daycare is a great way to expose them to other children and help them develop their social skills. But when a daycare facility doesn’t prioritize safety, the worst can happen. Learning that your child may have been abused, injured, or harmed at daycare can be heartbreaking. The best thing you can do for the safety of your child is to reach out to a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.

Personal injury attorneys like those at our law firm are trained to find evidence showing your child indeed suffered abuse at the daycare facility. Families going through this traumatic event deserve justice. We promise to work tirelessly on your behalf, leveraging our experience and knowledge to get you the results you deserve in your daycare abuse case. We will work with you to gather evidence and hold the perpetrators accountable, including the daycare staff and owner.

Contact Morgan Bourque Attorney at Law, at 713-766-3733 to discuss the details of your situation in a free, confidential consultation and see how our talented legal team can help with reporting a daycare for abuse or neglect.