The tragic events unfolding at Penn State are a wake-up call to each of us as individuals, to the institutions serving children, and to our larger community. What has happened at Penn State, however, is not a unique situation. We see about 2,000 children at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center each year. Most of our young clients have been sexually abused by someone they know and trust. Two thousand children — it sounds like a huge number, but we know it is only the “tip of the iceberg.”
It may be overwhelming to think about these findings from research:
• Professionals who suspect abuse make a report to authorities only about 30% of the time.
• Only about 1 in 10 children tell if they have been sexually abused.
What would you do if faced with making a report of known or suspected abuse? Do you know what to do? Do you know what your legal obligations are as an adult in the State of Texas? If you are a professional in a child-serving organization, is it acceptable to report your suspicions “internally” and not contact CPS or law enforcement?
The law in Pennsylvania allows adults to abdicate their reporting responsibility to their superiors.
Not so in the State of Texas. Anyone over the age of 18 is considered a mandated reporter, and they must report to law enforcement or Child Protective Services any suspicion of child abuse. The law is very clear. The adult who has the suspicion or knows of abuse must report it to the authorities – they can’t pass on this responsibility to a superior or some other administrator.
Through this blog, we will explore protecting our children, the latest research, laws, policies and practices in Texas and beyond. We will help parents become more aware and take note of ways to minimize risk for their kids. We will help parents with the words to use to explore sensitive subjects with their children.
Ellen Magnis
Chief of External Affairs
Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center
