Sexual Abuse in Louisiana Daycares | What Parents Need to Know

If you suspect that your child has been the victim of sexual daycare abuse in Louisiana, you may find yourself overwhelmed and at a loss for how to pursue justice. Daycares are meant to be safe spaces where you can trust that your children are being cared for with the same attention and investment that you show them, so what can be done when that trust is broken? Louisiana child abuse lawyers at Carabin Shaw are ready to work with you and fight for rightful compensation.

Daycare centers are a vital part of everyday living for many Louisiana parents. Entrusting your children to a daycare center is risky, yes, but necessary as well. Working parents deserve reliable and safe care for their children and, although the majority of daycare staff provide wonderful and necessary services, there are those who take advantage of their position to sexually abuse the children that they are meant to protect and care for.

While children are more likely to be abused in private settings, sexual abuse in Louisiana daycares is a threat as well. To ensure the safety and well-being of the children of working parents, understanding what signs and behaviors to look out for and be aware of is vital.

The Department of Children & Family Services in Louisiana has clear guidelines on what constitutes child sexual abuse:

• Involving a child in any sexual act with another person or parents
• Any pornographic content or displays
• Any sexual act that constitutes a crime within the laws of Louisiana
• The coercion of an abortion conducted on a child
• Female genital mutilation per the definition by R.S. 14:43.4

Awareness and vigilance are key in deciding if you need Louisiana child injury attorneys, especially in the case of sexual assault. Recognizing the signs of abuse will help you to make the decision to contact a lawyer, and these steps will help you do that.

Signs of child sexual abuse can be difficult to spot. In addition to physical signs there are often emotional and behavioral signs. Sometimes physical signs are absent, leaving on the emotional and behavioral tells. Some examples of these signs of abuse are:

• Swelling, bruising, or bleeding of the genital area
• Yeast or urinary tract infections
• Aversion to changing or removing clothes
• Regressive behavior (such as re-occurrence of thumb-sucking or bed-wetting)
• Aversion to physical contact, especially if it is a recent development
• Changes in school performance or sleep habits

This list is not extensive by any means. If you are concerned that your child is exhibiting these, or similar, behaviors and has been sexually abused, Louisiana Child Abuse Lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help you decide what action to take and what compensation may be owed.

Sexual child abuse at daycares often goes unnoticed and unreported, partially because the warning signs can be so difficult to spot. It is vital that you know exactly what is going on is your child’s daycare. Using these opportunities to teach your child the line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior when interacting with adults will also help you to stay aware of these situations.

Clear communication, and established boundaries, will help your child understand when those boundaries have been crossed and when they should come to you for help.

If you identify these signs in your child, it is imperative to contact a Louisiana attorney as soon as possible. Experts at Carabin Shaw offer free case review and initial consultation so that no time is wasted in establishing your case.

Our English AND Spanish-speaking staff are available toll-free, 24/7, at 800-862-1260 and are ready to fight for you and your child.