After Suspected Child Daycare Sexual Abuse in Dallas

A 2018 investigative report by the Austin American-Statesman found that more than 450 children were sexually abused in Texas daycares over the last decade. In that time, 88 others died of abuse and neglect in childcare facilities. This article was a wake-up call to the state legislature, which moved for more data and safety precautions regarding childcare. It was also startling to parents, many of whom rely on expensive daycares to watch their children. In Dallas Texas alone, more than 63% of children ages 0-12 have two working parents. As the government works to improve the industry, families have few options.

If you suspect your child suffered sexual abuse at daycare, a personal injury lawyer can help your family receive compensation. While a settlement does not take away your family’s pain, it eases the financial burden of counseling services and alternative therapies that your family might need to heal. For a free case review / initial consultation, reach out to the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw.

Abuse is about more than individual bad actors. It is also about a system that minimizes the importance of regulation and communication with parents. At the time of the Statesman’s article, Texas did not require daycare providers or regulatory agencies to tell parents if sexual abuse might have happened in a facility. Even if the Department of Family and Protective Services investigates an allegation of abuse, daycare centers only need to post this notice temporarily.

Child sexual abuse lawyers serving Dallas Tx know that this documentation is often vague and can avoid mentioning sexual abuse specifically. In other words, parents cannot always access information about which centers are safe for their children. National data can give us a better sense of child care and daycare sexual abuse cases outside Texas.

Darkness to Light, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse, reports:

• Over 90% of abused children know their abuser. 60% of these abusers are someone the family trusts, like a teacher or religious leader.
• Most children under five receive care from someone who isn’t a parent. 23.4% of these children are in organized childcare, like a daycare or nursery.
• 20% of all daycare child abuse cases involve sexual abuse. Other instances of daycare abuse include physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect.

Additionally, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) notes that 34% of all child sexual abuse victims are under age 12.

Individual children respond to stress differently, but there are some common signs Dallas daycare abuse lawyers encourage parents to look for. They include:

• Physical symptoms of sexual trauma, such as bleeding or bruised genitals, bloody sheets or underwear
• Infections like UTIs and yeast infections
• Fear or discomfort around strangers or specific people
• Depression or isolation
• Regressive behaviors, like thumb-sucking or bedwetting
• Changes in mood or personality, including increased aggression
• Conversation changes (e.g., the child openly discusses sexual topics, keeps secrets, etc.)
• Hygiene changes, such as bathing too little or more often than usual

If your child’s behavior and development changed quickly in ways that give you pause, talk to your child, their doctor, the police, and an attorney.

After suspected child daycare sexual abuse in Dallas, it can be difficult to process what happened and what your next steps as a family should be. Cases like this go beyond day-to-day parenting stress, and it is natural to be overwhelmed with sorrow and anger.

Hiring an attorney with personal injury experience allows you to focus on your family’s healing. The Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw are ready to assist you.

For a free case review / initial consultation, call us toll-free at 800-862-1260. We operate 24/7 and have English and Spanish-speaking representatives ready to take your call.