What Do I Do If My Child Was Sexually Abused at a Daycare Center in Fort Worth?

How Does Sexual Abuse Happen at Daycare Centers in Fort Worth?

In an overwhelming majority of sexual abuse cases (90%, according to the CDC), the abuser is a person whom the child either knows or the family trusts, such as a daycare caregiver, teacher, or even another child at a daycare center.

Childcare laws, also known as minimum standards, outline regulations to keep children safe from injuries and abuse at daycare centers across Texas. This starts with local centers conducting and completing thorough background checks on all caregivers and workers at the facility. (Most importantly, local daycare centers must wait for the results to be completed before putting prospective caregivers in charge of children.) This step prevents any individuals who have previously committed crimes against children from being left alone in a classroom full of vulnerable children.

With the recent uptick in development and people moving to Fort Worth, childcare help at local daycare centers is in demand. Therefore, it is important that local centers operate with the minimum standards required child-to-caregiver ratios in every classroom. Often, this places more than one caregiver in the average daycare classroom, which provides an additional set of eyes on children and prevents a single caregiver from being left alone with and able to violate a child.

The standards also require daycare directors in Fort Worth monitor caregivers and staff at the center throughout the day. By randomly popping into each classroom a few times throughout the day, directors can make sure all caregivers are following the minimum standards and all children at the center are safe.

While surveillance cameras are not currently required in local daycare centers, our Fort Worth daycare injury lawyers recommend you enroll your child at a center that uses this technology for additional oversight. Read this article to learn more about how surveillance cameras can help deter sexual abuse incidents and hold a negligent center and abusive caregivers accountable when a horrific crime is committed against a child.

To prevent sexual abuse at local centers, Fort Worth daycare directors should provide ongoing comprehensive training that includes how to properly care for children, such as not isolating them and thoroughly teaching appropriate interactions with kids of all ages. (There is a fine line between a caregiver being friendly and approachable toward children and grooming a child.) Training should also ensure all caregivers recognize the signs of sexual abuse and understand the proper response protocols, including reporting any suspected sexual abuse by immediately contacting Fort Worth police.

What Are the Red Flags of Daycare Sexual Abuse?

Last year, the state conducted 89 Priority 1 (highest priority) daycare abuse investigations involving children ages 4 and younger, including sexual abuse incidents, per the state’s report issued in March 2025. With that age group, a child might be too young to tell you what happened to them at a daycare center in Fort Worth or to understand that they were violated. In some instances, a child may not fully be aware, as 48% of survivors were sleeping at the time of a sexual assault, according to the national advocacy nonprofit Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

Therefore, it is important that you closely monitor your child for the following physical and behavioral changes that are common after daycare sexual abuse incidents:

Physical Signs:

• Difficulty sitting or walking
• Frequent urinary tract infections or other medical concerns
• Pain or discomfort during bathroom use
• Sudden onset of nightmares or bedwetting
• Unexplained bruises, redness, or bleeding in the genital area

Emotional and Behavioral Signs:

• Acting out sexually with toys or other children
• Anxiety, depression, or extreme clinginess
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Displaying a knowledge of sexual acts that is inappropriate for their age
• Fear of going to daycare or a sudden change in behavior when discussing the daycare center
• Sudden mood swings, aggression, or withdrawal

This article will help you discover other signs of daycare sexual abuse to watch for.

Even if your child is older and can verbalize their traumatic abuse at a Fort Worth daycare center, our daycare injury lawyers have seen how some centers use common cover-up tactics, such as intimidating or threatening a child about speaking out or telling a parent about their sexual abuse or encounters with a caregiver. Caregivers may also lie about how a child got bruises on their body or blame the injury on something that happened at home to conceal any injuries the child suffered at the hands of the abuser at the center.

Can I Sue a Daycare Center in Fort Worth If I Suspect My Child is Being Sexually Abused?

Yes, as a parent, you have the legal right to hold a daycare center and the abusive caregiver accountable by taking legal action. However, before you explore your legal options, it is vital to act quickly by contacting the Fort Worth Police Department if you suspect your child is being sexually abused at a local center. Then, take your child to a local hospital such as Cook Children's or a trusted pediatrician’s office for a medical evaluation. The doctor’s findings can serve as key evidence in a future legal case. These crimes against children can have deep impacts that stay with a child through adulthood if not stopped and addressed right away.

Then, report the Fort Worth daycare center to the state by calling 800-252-5400 so that action to investigate the incident can be escalated and an independent investigation can be conducted immediately.

Finally, contact our team of experienced daycare injury lawyers in Fort Worth by calling 214-699-4409 or emailing [email protected]. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team can help you navigate the process of holding the Fort Worth daycare center and the responsible caregiver(s) accountable for failing you and your child. A child’s road to healing and recovering after a daycare sexual abuse incident can be long and costly, with play therapy and other treatments and resources not always covered by insurance companies. Fighting for justice can include securing financial resources that your family needs to help your child’s recovery journey and the trauma and resulting hardships they may experience as they understand and process how they were violated. Taking legal action can also help protect other children at the daycare center from the predator(s).

It is important to highlight that there is no cost to reach out to our team to help your child. We work on a contingency basis, meaning we will not charge you or collect any money to start on your case. Cases in Tarrant County and other nearby counties have a two-year time limit, also known as the statute of limitations, to take action against your child’s abusers, so we encourage you to reach out to us as soon as possible.

Free Resources for Parents and Survivors of Daycare Sexual Abuse in Fort Worth

Suspecting or learning that your child has been sexually abused at a daycare center in Fort Worth can be traumatic for the whole family, and it can be hard to know where to turn. Our experienced daycare injury lawyers have created free resources to help guide your family and determine the next steps:

• What You Should Do If You Suspect Your Child Is a Victim of Sexual Abuse at Daycare
• Why Haven’t the Police Arrested the Teacher After My Child Was Harmed at a Daycare?
• What Will My Child Need to Do If We Sue a Daycare Center?
• What Are the Differences Between Criminal and Civil Cases in Texas?

Contact The Button Law Firm If Your Child Was Sexually Abused at a Daycare Center in Fort Worth

If your child was sexually abused at a daycare center in Fort Worth, Texas, contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. We are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.