Suspected Daycare Abuse in Louisiana

Around 125,000 children in Louisiana spend 15-30 hours per week in daycare every year. Their parents work hard, knowing their children are learning and playing under the watchful eye of qualified caregivers. They rightfully assume their kids are safe and secure.

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Every year, thousands of children in the United States are abused and neglected in daycare, with many sexually abused by the same people paid to protect them.

If you suspect your child is the victim of daycare sexual abuse, the Louisiana child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw want to talk to you. Your family deserves justice, and we want to see that you get it.

Louisiana is home to over 1,500 licensed facilities that care for over 125,000 children, including nurseries, daycares, churches, private homes, and before- or after-school programs.

With such a large percentage of children in child care, you might assume daycare centers are a common site of abuse.

Fortunately, the instances of Louisiana daycare sexual abuse are relatively low, though still worrisome:

• Last year, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services investigated 16,000 cases of child abuse and neglect.
• The DCFS verified over 8,000 child abuse reports.
• Around 5% of all child abuse reports involved sexual abuse, totaling over 450 cases.

Louisiana doesn’t report the site of child abuse or the relationship between abuser and victim. However, a look at national averages can give an idea of the frequency of daycare abuse in our state.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, daycare providers perpetrate 0.3% of all child abuse cases nationwide. If that average holds true for the 8,000 cases of child abuse in Louisiana, that equals two dozen cases of daycare abuse in the state last year alone.

Percentages vary greatly by state, so our child abuse attorneys in Louisiana understand the number of cases here could be higher, especially considering how many go unreported every year.

Multiple studies suggest that 60% of all child sexual abuse cases go unreported because the victim is silenced through fear or intimidation.

Because of that, it’s important that any parent who has suspected daycare abuse in Louisiana watch closely for warning signs:

• Physical signs include bruising or redness in sensitive areas, trouble sitting or walking, and unexplained stomach pain or headaches (often symptoms of stress).
• Emotional signs include anger, depression, emotional withdrawal, and fear of daycare or nervousness around a specific employee.
• Behavioral signs include the use of mature sexual language, inappropriately touching other children, imitating sex acts with toys, refusal to take off clothes at bath or bedtime, and reverting to past behaviors like bedwetting.

If you notice any of these, file a report using the Louisiana DCFS child abuse hotline. Then, call one of our lawyers to discuss your next steps.

A personal injury lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for damages related to sexual abuse. Damages can be economic (such as the costs of medical bills and therapy) and non-economic (pain and suffering, emotional anguish, etc.).

Most states have a statute of limitations on when you can file a sexual abuse claim in civil court, so it’s always best to talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

Previously, victims of child molestation in Louisiana had until age 28 to file a civil claim. However, recently passed legislation extended that age to 53.

If your child is a victim of daycare abuse, the Louisiana child injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw have the knowledge and experience your family needs.

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