Reporting Process for Daycare Concerns in Texas
The most important step is to file the report. Contact the Office of Customer Relations of the DFPS. You can do this by: Telephone: 1-800-720-7777, Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Texas law requires immediate reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. If there is an emergency, call 911 and the DFPS Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. To file a complaint or report a violation, contact your regional licensing office. Texas requires registering or licensing childcare homes if caring for more than four children at a time.
Reporting Process for Unlicensed Daycares
If you suspect a daycare isn’t meeting minimum standards for safety, it’s within your rights to report them. Here’s how to report a daycare in Texas:
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Know whether you’re reporting a complaint or abuse. Maybe you wish to report concern about nutrition or lack of a safe sleeping area.
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Contact the DFPS: call the hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or submit an online report.
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Provide information: name and address of the facility, concerns, and evidence.
Pay attention to signs of abuse or injury: physical, emotional, behavioral changes, words from a child. Daycare abuse and negligence can take many forms: physical/emotional abuse, neglect of basic needs, dangerous conditions. If you suspect abuse/neglect, contact a Texas lawyer to help report.
Requirements and Regulations for Daycare Centers in Texas
State regulators created a seven-person unit to look for daycare and child care centers without the required permits. In July, regulators in Texas shut down an illegal daycare center in Arlington. The average cost of a babysitter in Texas is $12.63 per hour.
Indoor Space Requirements
Your Registered or Licensed child care home must have at least 30 square feet of indoor usable activity space for each child in care. Licensed Child Care Homes provide care for 7-12 children under 14 years old in the permit holder’s own home.
Additional Information
The average annual cost of infant care in Texas is $9,324. There are about 9,811 home daycares in Texas. Small Family Child Care Homes that care for 1-3 children must be listed with the state. Unlicensed daycare centers and providers have become a problem in many areas, but regulators in Texas are now cracking down. Injuries caused by the negligence of others can allow children to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.