Ahead of summer, lawyers representing three
families urge parents to discuss delicate topic with little
ones
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas, May 15, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Recent child abuse allegations against a Central
Texas YMCA were shocking to local parents who rely on childcare
help. Now with summer fast approaching, and many children expected
to spend longer days with caregivers at daycare centers and summer
camps, notable Texas child injury
lawyer Russell Button of The
Button Law Firm, which is representing three of the families
involved in the YMCA case, is urging parents to have ongoing
conversations with their kids to help identify incidents of
abuse.
"Learning what a child is experiencing or what they are seeing
happen to their friends or classmates while in the care of others
can be very telling, even if kids are too young to grasp or process
the abusive actions," says Button.
Last year alone, there were 1,169 daycare abuse investigations
involving children 4 years old and younger that were conducted by
Texas Health and Human Services, according to a March 2024 report. With nearly 7% of Pflugerville's population younger than 5 years
old, Button recommends that parents take an age-appropriate
approach such as using simple words, telling a story, and remaining
calm, even if a child informs you of physical or sexual abuse at
the hands of a caregiver or even another child. Also, choosing a
quiet and private time like bedtime is best to connect and allow a
child to open up about this serious topic.
"These types of conversations can be uncomfortable, but they are
necessary to ensure the well-being of your child when they are away
from you and if you need to intervene if abuse is suspected," says
Button.
Often, culpable caregivers or camp counselors tell young
children not to share what happened to them or what abuse they
witnessed. The caregiver may threaten children, telling them that
they will get in trouble or that something bad will happen to them
or a family member.
"Taking a calm approach can help your little one confide in you
and understand they will be safe no matter what they reveal," says
Button.
He encourages parents to seek out daycare centers, childcare
programs, and summer camps that are equipped with surveillance
cameras. He also wants to remind local centers of their
responsibility to frequently monitor the footage to ensure children
entrusted to the facility are safe. He warns that the technology
can deter abuse but does not stop it from happening. However, it is
a vital tool to identify the bad actors and hold them
accountable.
"Surveillance footage uncovered the extensive abuse happening at
this Central Texas YMCA," he says. "It is hard to argue with
video."
The Button Law Firm has created a free guide to help parents
find safe childcare help, including key questions to ask and what
to look for on tours of local daycare centers.
"Unfortunately, nothing is foolproof. There are times that
parents do everything right: asking the right questions, seeking
out referrals from other parents, and touring daycare centers. But
there are still negligent facilities and bad caregivers. Sadly,
what happened at the Central Texas YMCA can happen at daycare
centers anywhere," says Button.
About The Button Law Firm
The Button Law Firm
(buttonlawfirm.com) is a Texas-based personal injury law firm that
advocates for children and their families in meaningful litigation
to make local communities safer. The firm focuses on daycare and
child-related injuries such as abuse and neglect cases, bottle
warmer burns, traumatic brain injuries, and catastrophic injuries.
With attorneys in Dallas,
Houston, and Midland, The Button Law Firm helps families
move forward across the Lone Star State.
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SOURCE The Button Law Firm