The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works with communities to promote safe and healthy families and protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. We do this through investigations, services and referrals, and prevention programs.
TDFPS provides information, training, and licenses for approval to become a foster parent or adopting parent.
Call the Texas Abuse Hotline when the situation is urgent. Urgent means someone faces an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in death or serious harm.
Call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 for situations including but not limited to:
- 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 age five and under 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
If you are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled you can call by using the relay service of your choice or by using Relay Texas at 7-1-1. Tell the relay operator to call the Texas Abuse Hotline at (800) 252-5400.
You can also use this website to report situations that do not need to be investigated right away. It may take more than 48 hours to process online reports due to high volume.
The Texas Youth Helpline provides free and confidential services to youth, their parents, and other family members of youth in crisis who need help finding a counselor, safe shelter, legal information, other local referral information, or just someone to talk to.
Whether you contact us by phone, text, or chat, you are not required to share your name or address. We are not a reporting hotline, and we are not associated with law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
Our trained staff and volunteers are here to listen and not judge. We can help brainstorm solutions and, if needed, connect you with resources that can help you take the next step. Most of the referrals we give are to low or no cost services.
- Listening - Helping to Cope
- Brainstorming Solutions - Action Planning
- Low or No Cost Counselors and other community resources
- Free Messaging Services for runaway youth
- Free Rides home for runaway youth
Click here for more information.
Free.
APS investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities and who live in the community. Any adult who has a disability or who is age 65 or older that is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may be eligible to receive adult protective services.
Victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may get short-term help with shelter, home repairs, food, transportation, managing money, medical care, home healthcare services, and mental health services.
TDFPS provides information, training, and licenses for approval to become a foster parent or adopting parent.
Foster care and adoptive parents must be 21 years old and up, pass a background check, submit to home inspections, attend trainings, and be willing to work with the welfare team.
Check our website for resources for parents and caregivers here.