Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse for Texas Early Childhood Professionals

This course is designed specifically for early childhood professionals in Texas childcare centers and home-based settings, including teachers, assistant teachers, directors, administrators, caregivers, and other childcare staff responsible for complying with Texas mandated reporting laws.

As an early childhood professional in Texas, you have a critical role in protecting children from harm. This comprehensive and practical course provides everything you need to recognize and report child abuse, neglect, and exploitation accurately and confidently.

Learn to spot the signs, fulfill your mandatory reporting responsibilities within the updated 24-hour timeframe, and effectively handle disclosures from children. With real-world scenarios and clear guidelines, you will gain the knowledge and confidence to take swift, appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in your care.

This course is offered in our online format and includes audio narration in most course sections:

Acceptance information

This course meets Texas’ mandatory child abuse reporting training requirement for early childhood professionals. It is also accepted for the CDA credential and for CDA renewal training requirements.

Learning outcomes

After completing Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse for Texas Early Childhood Professionals, you will be able to …

• Explain child abuse, neglect, and exploitation as they are defined in Texas, and recognize common signs and symptoms of each
• Describe mandatory reporting requirements as required by the Texas Family Code and Child Care Licensing standards
• Identify appropriate responses to child abuse disclosures and suspicions, including how to support the child, report concerns correctly, and understand the legal protections for reporters and consequences for failing to act

Topics covered in Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse for Texas Early Childhood Professionals:

• Understanding child abuse, neglect, and exploitation in Texas
• Physical abuse and its indicators
• Neglect and signs to recognize
• Sexual abuse and exploitation indicators
• Emotional abuse and behavioral signs
• Mandatory reporting requirements in Texas
• How and when to report to DFPS or law enforcement
• Reporting procedures
• Confidentiality and legal protection for reporters
• Consequences of failing to report or delaying reports
• Handling child disclosures
• Supporting children who disclose abuse
• Avoiding common mistakes when a child discloses
• Protections and consequences for reporters
• Protection from employer retaliation
• Penalties for failing to report suspected abuse
• Accurate and confidential documentation practices
• Using observations to support reports
• Supporting children and families