The Forensic Assessment Center Network was established by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in 2006 to make expert pediatricians available for consultation to Children’s Protective Services and Child Care Licensing on cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. Physicians with expertise in adult and geriatric medicine joined the FACN in 2015, providing Adult Protective Services support for cases of suspected maltreatment and exploitation of adults. The FACN is managed by the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth)-Houston McGovern Medical School, in coordination with UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, UT Medical Branch at Galveston, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dell Children’s Medical Center at Austin, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock.

The FACN provides 24-hour support for DFPS workers via a statewide toll-free number and a secure web-based system. The FACN conducts multiple trainings throughout the year concerning child and adult maltreatment and exploitation. As of the end of fiscal year 2017, the network had served over 31,000 children and 200 adults.