Parent, Guardian, & Caregiver Resources

Abuse Prevention

• Behaviors to Watch for When Adults are with Children & Signs that a Child or Teen May Be At-Risk to Harm Another Child Stop It Now!  Tipsheet to help parents or caregivers of children with disabilities recognize warning signs of abuse by adults or other children.
• Child Maltreatment Among Children with Disabilities Center for Disease Control. Tips and resources for parents to increase their children's safety.
• Connect With Your Child: Prevent Bullying and Peer Abuse This 2-page resource from Prevent Child Abuse provides tips for parents for talking about bullying with children.
• For Parents of Children with Disabilities Stop It Now! 4 prevention tip sheets for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, including information on family safety planning and protecting children with disabilities from abuse in program settings.
• Family Safety Planning to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. 2-page resource on reducing risk of sexual abuse for children with disabilities by creating a family safety plan.
• Help for Parents. Hope for Kids A website with parenting tips, resources for Texas parents, and information about abuse and children.
• How to Talk to Your Child to Reduce Vulnerability to Sexual Abuse Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. 2-page resource on teaching children about sex and sexuality, personal space, and boundaries.
• Positive Parenting Approaches, Zero to Three This 1-page tipsheet provides 12 alternatives to lashing out at children.
• Recognizing Child Abuse: What Parents Should Know Prevent Child Abuse. 4-page tip sheet on recognizing child abuse, and signs of physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment.

Healing from Abuse

• Child Sexual Abuse: Coping with the Emotional Stress of the Legal System National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Detailed fact sheet for parents and guardians covering the stress of the legal system and how to help children cope.
• Coping with the Shock of Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse National Child Traumatic Stress Network. 5-page primer for parents on the effects of family sexual abuse and ways to cope.
• Healing and Support for Children and Parents Stop it NOW! Resources for parents and children after sexual abuse of children with disabilities.
• Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect Information and resources for parents and caregivers in caring for a child who has been abused or neglected.
• What Should I Do When a Child Tells? Important things that a child needs after disclosing sexual abuse abuse.

Parenting a Child with a Disability

• First Five Years Interactive Parent Companion. Resource guide for parents.

Parent & Family Resources

State

• 211 Texas This statewide, confidential service provides information about community resources, including information about state benefits and other government services.
• CHIP/Medicaid 1-877-543-7669 (1-877-KIDS-NOW). Texas families with uninsured children who are approved may be able to get health insurance through Children's Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Help for Parents. Hope for Kids A website with parenting tips, resources for Texas parents, and information about abuse and children.
• Navigate Life Texas Resources for families of Texas children with disabilities and/or health care needs. It includes information about insurance, schools, transition to adulthood, services, family support, and disabilities.
• Parent Companion A guide for Texas parents and caregivers of children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities from birth through 5 years of age.
• Texas Education Agency (TEA) special education program provides information for parents and families of children with disabilities.
  • Services for Texas students with disabilities ages 3-5
• Texas Parent to Parent Comprehensive website that provides parent-to-parent support, resource material, and education to parents and to professionals working with children with disabilities.

Working with Child Protective Services

• The Family Helpline for Strong Families and Safe Children Parents and caregivers can ask experienced attorneys questions about CPS issues. Call 844.888.6565 Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Spanish speaking services are also available.
• How the Child Welfare System Works Child Welfare Information Gateway. 9-page guide on how the child welfare system works, covering issues from what happens after possible abuse is reported to what happens in substantiated cases of abuse.
• A Parent's Guide to Child Protective Services Investigations Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Step-by-step information on how Child Protective Services (CPS) conducts investigations, legal information regarding CPS records, and what to do if you disagree with the findings of a CPS investigation.

National Resources

• National Child Abuse Hotline The Childhelp National Abuse Hotline is staffed by professional counselors who are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. All calls are anonymous and toll-free. Call 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453), then push 1 to talk to a hotline counselor. Communication in 170 languages is available.
• Resources for Parents and Caregivers National Child Traumatic Stress Network website that provides resources to help parents understand how traumatic events affect children, so they are better prepared to help their children cope.
• Understood - For Learning and Attention Issues Resources for parents of children aged 3-20 with learning and attention issues, including detailed information about education, friends, family issues, and self-care.