Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) protects children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. **Overview** The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services and referrals. DFPS has four major programs that do this important work: [Adult Protective Services](https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Adult_Protection/default.asp) Protects the elderly and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation through investigations and services. [Child Protective Services](https://www.dfps.texas.gov/child_protection/) Protects children from abuse and neglect through services, foster care, and adoption. [Child Protective Investigations](https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Investigations/default.asp) Investigates reports of child abuse or neglect to determine if any child in the family has been abused or neglected. If the children aren't safe, the investigator starts protective services. [Statewide Intake](https://www.dfps.texas.gov/About_DFPS/Statewide_Intake/default.asp) Takes reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation from across the state through its Texas Abuse Hotline (1-800-252-5400) and through the website [TxAbuseHotline.org*External Link*](https://www.txabusehotline.org) 24-hours a day, every day of the year. Call the [Texas Abuse Hotline](https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Contact_Us/report_abuse.asp) if you suspect that a child or adult who is elderly or has disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited.