Sexual Abuse at a Child Care Facility in Fort Worth Tx

Every year, parents in the U.S. pay an estimated $42 billion in child care. Residents of Fort Worth Tx pay an average of $7,000-$10,000. While those numbers are high, most parents would agree it’s a small price to pay for the safety and security of their children.

Unfortunately, safety isn’t always guaranteed. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 60,000 children per year suffer some form of sexual abuse, and a great deal of this abuse occurs when the child is in the care of a nonparent.

If your child is the victim of inappropriate touching at day care, our sexual abuse lawyers in Fort Worth are prepared to help you fight for the justice your family deserves.

Day care is a fact of life for many Americans. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly one-fourth of children five-years old and under are in non-family child care.

Non-family care includes any provider who cares for two or more children outside of the child’s home, such as daycare, churches, nursery schools, and preschools. In Texas alone, there are over 780,00 such facilities, with the average child spending 25-35 hours per week there.

It’s the natural inclination of predators to seek out the most vulnerable victims, and who is more vulnerable than a child? Consider these sobering statistics from state Child Protective Service agencies:

• An estimated 63,000 children are sexually abused in the United States every year.
• In Texas, nearly 10% of all CPS maltreatment reports were related to sexual abuse.
• Sexual abuse accounts for one-fifth of all maltreatment reports originating from day care centers.

Children aren’t necessarily at greater risk of abuse in daycare. In fact, of all reports filed last year in Texas, only 1% came from child care. But still, the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw know that even a single case is one case too many.

A U.S. Department of Justice study found that inappropriate touching and fondling was the most common form of child care abuse. Two-thirds of it occurred in the bathroom, when the abuser was alone with the victim.

There was also no clear offender profile. Abuse can come from anywhere. The list varied between caregivers, their family members, volunteers, other children, and outsiders (janitors, bus drivers, visitors, etc.).

That same study found most offenders were successful in keeping the abuse secret through coercion or intimidation. In one-third of cases, the abuse continued for over six months. Because of that, it’s important to watch for signs of sexual abuse. The list is long and varied, but the most common are emotional signs such as unusual fears, anxiety and depression, sleep disturbances, regression to past behaviors like bedwetting, and inappropriate sexual behaviors or language.

If you suspect sexual abuse at a child care facility in Fort Worth Tx, it’s important not to confront the offender yourself. You should immediately contact the police and the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Next, you should contact the Texas child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw. Child abuse laws vary by state, and our local lawyers have the knowledge and experience you need to get the justice your family deserves.

The long-term effects of sexual abuse can include behavioral problems, academic problems, substance abuse, and more. Fortunately, all of them can be combated with trauma-focused mental health treatments.

The Fort Worth child abuse attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help you get the compensation you need for treatment, as well as for the pain and suffering endured. Our attorneys will fight for you in your time of need.

Call us at toll-free 800-862-1260 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our English and Spanish-speaking staff are available to speak with you 24/7.