Drowning Prevention
Drowning is a leading cause of child death, especially for children 4 and younger. Drowning can happen in a matter of seconds, and it’s often silent. Children can drown even if they are strong swimmers or in shallow water.
Learn how to protect your children around water and teach them water safety at the Get Parenting Tips Water Safety for Kids page.
Safe Riders Child Passenger Safety
Safe Riders is a statewide program dedicated to preventing child deaths and reducing injuries due to motor vehicle crashes. The program provides essential resources to make sure Texans have the tools and information they need to keep children safe.
Through Safe Riders, you can access essential child passenger safety resources like:
- Child safety seats for families in need
- Child safety seat inspections and checkups events
- Child passenger safety presentations and trainings
- Educational materials and resources
To learn more, visit Safe Riders Child Passenger Safety.
Parent’s Guide to School Safety
The Texas School Safety Center provides a toolkit to answer questions parents and guardians may have about school safety. Use the toolkit to learn more about the procedures for keeping your child safe, common issues impacting students and how schools work with law enforcement.
To get started, access the toolkit.
Preventing Abuse and Assisting Survivors
Family violence is when one family or household member physically harms or emotionally abuses another family or household member. A spouse or a partner, or a man or a woman, can experience family violence. Family members, such as children who witness family violence, are also considered victims.
Family violence can take different forms such as:
- Physical abuse (hitting or using a weapon).
- Sexual abuse (rape or any unwanted sexual contact).
- Emotional abuse (threats or humiliation).
- Financial abuse (controlling a person’s money without their permission).
Access state resources to help prevent, identify and address abuse. Several resources are available to help families and survivors live safe, healthy lives:
- Family Violence Program
- CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
- Children’s Advocacy Centers
- Human Trafficking Resource Center
- Address Confidentiality Program
- Cyber Safety
- Child Support and Family Violence
Family Violence Program
The Family Violence Program promotes the safety, self-sufficiency and long-term independence of adult and child survivors of family violence and survivors of dating violence. Through a network of trauma-informed service providers, the program provides emergency shelter and supportive services to survivors and their children, educates the public, provides training, and offers prevention support to various organizations across Texas.
All services are provided for free and there is no income verification for eligibility. For a directory of shelters and support services, visit Family Violence Program Resources.
CASA
Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is the statewide association for more than 70 local CASA programs. Texas CASA works to connect each part of the CASA community and empower the local programs to perform at their highest level.
At the local level, the programs recruit, train and supervise CASA volunteers to advocate for children involved in the child welfare system and improve their well-being. At the state level, Texas CASA provides financial support, training and services to help the local programs operate effectively.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has trained advocates available 24/7 for crisis intervention support, safety planning, education and advocacy. These advocates can also refer you to local shelters and other resources in Texas.
800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
If you’re in an emergency and need immediate help from the local police department, call 9-1-1.
Children’s Advocacy Centers
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas is a nonprofit organization that oversees a statewide network of children’s advocacy centers. These centers support children in Texas who have been affected by abuse or crime.
The centers and their network of resources help impacted children and their caregivers with a variety of services including case management, medical evaluations, and mental health services.
To find support near you, view the Local Center Map.
To report suspected abuse, call 1-800-252-5400.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a crime that involves exploiting a person for labor, services or commercial sex. Traffickers can be anyone, including family members, intimate partners, business owners and community leaders. Fighting human trafficking and helping survivors is a top priority in Texas.
The HHSC Texas Human Trafficking Resource Center connects Health and Human Services staff, health care providers, stakeholders and those who have experienced human trafficking to resources needed to locate services, help prevent trafficking, and recognize and respond to potential trafficking situations.
Visit the Texas Human Trafficking Resource Center
The Office of the Attorney General of Texas created a video, “Be the One,” about preventing, recognizing and reporting human trafficking. The video includes survivors sharing their experiences and how human trafficking has affected them. (Note: The following film contains stories that some viewers may find triggering or upsetting. Viewer discretion is advised.)
You can report suspicious activity to the Texas Department of Public Safety through the iWatchTexas community reporting system.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger:
- Call 911 for the local police department.
- Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
- Call: 1-888-373-7888 (TTY: 711)
- Text: 233733
- Chat Online: Human Trafficking Hotline Web Chat
Address Confidentiality Program
The Address Confidentiality Program helps Texans who have experienced family violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking or child abduction.
The program offers a substitute post office box address you can use in place of your actual home address for documents like a driver license application or school enrollment form.
To learn more, visit the Address Confidentiality Program page.
Cyber Safety
Child predators often use digital platforms to exploit children. Knowledge is the best way to protect your family on the internet. Resources are available to help you educate yourself and your family on cyber safety.
To learn more, visit the Cyber Safety page.
