Child sexual abuse will most likely affect your classroom at some point in your teaching career. Trust your instincts and suspicions about child abuse by looking for these signs issued by The Children’s Assessment Center.

The Children’s Assessment Center does warn that children may show all or none of the signs above. However, the list is a good starting point:

1. Changes in behavior
2. Returning to earlier behaviors
3. Fear of going home
4. Changes in eating
5. Changes in sleeping
6. Changes in school performance and attendance
7. Lack of personal care or hygiene
8. Risk-taking behaviors
9. Inappropriate sexual behaviors
10. Unexplained injuries

To report a case of child abuse or neglect in Texas, call 800-252-5400 or contact your local law enforcement agency. For more information about how you can help, go to www.cachouston.org

The Center for Safe and Secure Schools hosts an a.m. or p.m. workshop on December 14 with the Children’s Assessment Center called Darkness to Light Stewards of Children.  We hope you can attend.  It’s a free training that fulfills mandates of the Texas Education Code 38.0041 requiring school district staff training concerning “prevention techniques for and recognition of sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children.

About the blogger:

Harris County Department of Education’s Communication team helps promote the efforts of HCDE’s programs and services to the education community. Our close-knit, award-winning team works together on creative strategies to effectively support the organization. We’re always looking to share great stories and on occasion contribute to the HCDE blog, School Bell.

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