Physical Abuse Indicators:

• Surface area injuries
• Non-accidental bruising patterns
• Loop or wrap around injuries
• Injuries in various stages of healing
• Complications from old injuries
• Imprint of instrument on skin
• Cigarette burns
• Shows signs of overall poor health

Sexual Abuse Physical Indicators:

• Headaches, stomach aches, and overall not feeling well
• Pain in anal or genital area
• Recurring vaginal or bladder infections
• Oral, genital, or anal bleeding
• Redness, swelling, itching, or trauma to the genital/anal area
• Pregnancy

Behavioral Indicators:

• Unable to explain injury or explanation inconsistent with injury
• Unusually fearful, non-spontaneous
• Overly eager to please adults
• Discomfort about undressing in front of peers
• Sudden change in behavior
• Fears/phobias, retreat to fantasy
• Disturbed sleeping patterns
• Changes in relationships to adults (avoidance or clinging)
• Problems in school
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Running away
• Inappropriate & obsessive sexual awareness, promiscuity
• Compulsive masturbation
• Depression, low self-esteem, self-critical
• Appearance of retardation
• Child states an adult is bothering him or her
• Verbalization of sexual assault
• Discomfort or extreme sensitivity to physical contact
• Friends who are several years older
• Acquisition of unexplainable toys, money, or clothes
• Regression to more childish behavior
• Delinquent acts
• Suicidal gestures or attempts
• Plays parental role

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Physical Neglect
• Abandonment
• Medical Neglect
• Neglectful Supervision
• Drug Endangered Children
• Refusal to Accept Parental Responsibility

• To protect the child
• To comply with Texas law
• To get help for the family

According to Section 261.109 of the Texas Family Code

A person commits an offense if the person has cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect and knowingly fails to report it.  This offense is punishable by up to a $1000 fine and/or jail up to 180 days.

There is no statute of limitations on the reporting law. However, most States have differing statutes of limitation regarding prosecution of abuse. It is better to report and err on the site of caution.

According to the Texas Family Code –

Section 261.101(d) states:
Unless waived in writing by the person making the report, the identity of an individual making a report under this chapter is confidential and may be disclosed only: (1) as provided by Sec. 261.201; or (2) to a law enforcement officer for the purposes of conducting a criminal investigation of the report.

Section 261,101© states:
The requirement to report under this section applies without exception to an individual whose personal communiations my otherwise be privileged, including an attorney, a member of the clergy, a medical practioner, a social facility that provides reproductive services.

According to Section 261.101 of the Texas Family Code

Child abuse, whether past or present, child neglect or a child death should be reported to any local or state law enforcement agency, or, to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services by calling 1-800-252-5400.

Watch Video

• Before I go anywhere, I always check first with my parents or the person in charge. I tell them where I am going, how I will get there, who will be going with me, and when I’ll be back. 
• I check first for permission from my parents before getting into a car or leaving with anyone – even someone I know. I check first before changing plans or accepting money, gifts, or drugs without my parents knowledge.
• It is safer for me to be with other people when going places or playing outside. I always use the “buddy system.”
• I say NO if someone tries to touch me in ways that make me feel frightened, uncomfortable, or confused. Then I go tell a grown-up that I trust what happened.
• I know it is not my fault if someone touches me in a way that is not O.K. I don’t have to keep secrets about those touches.
• I trust my feelings and talk to grown-ups about problems that are too big for me to handle on my own. A lot of people care about me and will listen and believe me. I am not alone.
• It is never too late to ask for help. I can keep asking until I get the help I need.
• I am a special person and I deserve to be safe.

• Place the computer in a common room where the computer can be seen and activities can easily be monitored. This will provide both the child and the parent greater accountability for their activities on the computer.
• Monitor your child’s activity on the computer. Be familiar with the websites that they visit. Check the internet history to ensure they aren’t visiting websites that are inappropriate.
• Develop a set of rules for internet use. For some helpful suggestions, visit: BE INTERNET AWESOME
• Do not give out any personal information to anyone over the internet, even if you know the individual.
• Know who your child communicates with over the internet. Make sure they can put a face with every screen name on their “buddy” list. They should not communicate with people they do not know.
• Know that people are not always who they say they are online. A person who claims to be a 12 year-old female may actually be a 40 year-old male.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours a day of total screen time, which includes computer, television, and video games.

The counseling relationship is a safe environment for your child to label and express feelings related to abuse such as anger, fear and sadness.  Your child will also be assisted in re-establishing the personal boundaries and the sense of self-worth taken from him/her by the abuser. Your child will learn that the abuse was not his/her fault. 

Play is the emotional language of children.  Just as adults use words to express feelings, children use play.  Play therapy is the use of toys and expressive media such as dolls, puppets, and paint in a counseling relationship.  This allows children to express their feelings and thoughts in a natural way.

Length of time in counseling varies.  Your child’s counselor will help your child set goals to be reached in therapy.  An individual treatment plan will be reviewed periodically.

Your child may need to seek therapy again as he or she matures, leaves home, marries, or has a child of his or her own.

Contact Garth House at (409) 838-9084 in Beaumont or (409) 883-1313 in Orange

Yes, the Garth House offers a variety of volunteering opportunities.
Click here for more information on volunteering.

Most volunteers jobs require two to four hours a week.

Click here for more information on volunteering.