3200, Abuse and Neglect Reporting

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Revision 24-2; Effective Oct. 15, 2024

Grantees must obey state laws that govern the reporting of suspected abuse and neglect of children, adults with disabilities or people 65 years or older.

The Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 48, requires suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an elderly person, a person with a disability or an individual receiving services from certain home and community-based providers be reported. Grantees must have an agency policy about abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly and adults with disabilities and must provide annual staff training.

Reporting an Abuse Emergency

To report an emergency that involves the abuse or neglect of children, adults with disabilities, people 65 years or older, or an individual receiving services from certain home and community-based providers, contact the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or online at TXAbuseHotline.org. For cases that pose an imminent threat or danger to the person, call 9-1-1 or any local or state law enforcement agency.

Call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 for situations including:

Serious injuries.
Any injury to a child 5 years or younger.
Immediate need for medical treatment, including suicidal thoughts.
Sexual abuse where the abuser has or will have access to the victim within the next 24 hours.
Children 5 years and younger who are alone or are likely to be left alone within the next 24 hours.
Anytime you believe your situation requires action in less than 24 hours.

Reporting a Suspicion of Abuse

For situations that do not require immediate investigation and to report suspicions of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children, adults with disabilities, people 65 years of age or older, or an individual receiving services from certain home and community-based providers, use the Department of Family and Protective Services Texas Abuse Hotline.

3210 Child Abuse Reporting, Compliance and Monitoring

Revision 24-2; Effective Oct. 15, 2024

Grantees and providers must develop policies and procedures that follow the reporting guidelines and requirements in Texas Family Code, Chapter 261. Grantee must develop an internal policy to determine:

how child abuse reporting requirements will be implemented throughout their agency;
how staff will be trained; and
how internal monitoring will be done to make sure reporting is timely.

During quality assurance (QA) monitoring, compliance with the following criteria will be evaluated:

The grantee's process must make sure staff is reporting abuse as required by Texas Family Code, Chapter 261. To verify compliance, QA monitors examine the grantee to make sure they:
- have an internal policy which details how the grantee will determine, document, report and track instances of sexual and non-sexual abuse, for all people younger than 18 years in compliance with the Texas Family Code, Chapter 261;
- follow their own internal policy; and
- document staff training on child abuse reporting requirements and procedures.
The grantee’s internal policy must clearly describe the reporting process for child abuse.

Resources for child abuse reporting policy development are found at the Texas Abuse Hotline.

3220 Human Trafficking

Revision 25-3; Effective Oct. 29, 2025

HHSC requires grantees to obey state laws that govern the reporting of abuse and neglect. As part of the requirement that grantees follow applicable federal laws, family planning grantees also must follow anti-trafficking laws, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, 22 USC Section 7101, and all items that follow the item cited.

Grantees must have a written policy on human trafficking which includes the provision of annual staff training.

Grantees must display signage related to human trafficking in areas where clients and the public can easily see them. Such areas include lobbies, waiting rooms, front reception desks and locations where people apply for and receive services.

Resources for Human Trafficking Policy Development

Health care professionals and organizations must adhere to reporting requirements per Chapter 91 of the Texas Family Code.

Grantees also must have a written policy related to assessment and prevention of domestic violence and IPV, including the provision of annual staff training.

3230 Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence

Revision 25-1; Effective Jan. 29, 2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Intimate Partner Violence Prevention webpage describes intimate partner violence (IPV) as physical, sexual or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. Per Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 51, family violence may also include emotional harm and a threat of harm. IPV can exist regardless of the presence of sexual intimacy.

Health care professionals and organizations must adhere to reporting requirements outlined in Chapter 91 of the Texas Family Code.