Abuse in Texas

Trinity Kids is focused on serving children in North Central Texas, which is referred to as Region 3 by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

Region 3 is the largest of the state's 11 regions in terms of child population as it has almost 2 million children age 0-17. The region consists of 18 counties including: Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Fanin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise.

This means that we have a significant responsibility to carry out our mission in this region because the need is so prevalent. Since the inception of Trinity Kids, we have worked with over 1,000 children who were involved in CPS investigations, placed in a foster home, or fortunate enough to have been adopted.

The majority of those children were in foster care and Trinity Kids works to bring as many siblings through our program as possible in order to maintain those familial relations past their childhood years. Children who have suffered abuse come from every imaginable family situation which is not defined by race, wealth, or socio-ethnic background.

Texas: by the numbers

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a central place to report:

  • Child abuse and neglect.

  • Abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home.

  • Abuse of children in child-care facilities or treatment centers

  • Abuse of adults and children who live in state facilities or are being helped by programs for people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. These are run by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).

Texas law says anyone who thinks a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to DFPS. A person who reports abuse in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability. DFPS keeps the name of the person making the report confidential. Anyone who does not report suspected abuse can be held liable for a misdemeanor or felony. Time frames for investigating reports are based on the severity of the allegations. Reporting suspected abuse makes it possible for a family to get help.

Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation

Two Ways to Report Abuse

1-800-252-5400 - Call their Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide.

Texas Abuse Hotline - Report with our secure website and get a response within 24 hours.

Special Note

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services cannot accept email reports of suspected abuse or neglect.