REQUEST SUPPORT

Please review the FAQ’s and if you feel you need support, please fill out the form below the FAQ’s.  Thank you for taking these steps to reach out to us for assistance.

What can I expect when I fill out the form below

After submitting your request for assistance, you will hear from a trained San Antonio Legal Services Association volunteer within 3 business days. This intake conversation will help us better understand your current situation and guide us in providing resources to best support you and your child.
 
Most times, parents need help navigating through a school situation.  Our trained volunteers are equipped with the knowledge of the Texas laws that apply to a school’s responsibilities.  In some cases, you may need legal support and our volunteers will provide you with information about The DBM (Don’t Bully Me) Project services that are available to your situation.

WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDS HELP WITH THE EMOTIONAL AND/OR PSYCHOLOGICAL STRAIN DUE TO THE SITUATION THEY ARE EXPERIENCING?

If you feel that your child has exhibited any behavior, or said anything, that would indicate that he/she is not coping well, contemplating suicide or has attempted suicide, you should obtain immediate help from a mental health professional if you have not done so already.

If needed, reach out to:

  • 911
  • Your local children’s mental health hospital or nearest emergency room
  • Mental health officers with your local police department who are specially trained to assist with mental health situations

Local Mental Health Authority  LMHA map  for therapy and counseling options in your area

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE DBM PROJECT?

After submitting your DBM request for assistance, you will hear from a trained San Antonio Legal Services Association volunteer within 3 business days. This intake conversation will help us better understand your current situation and guide us in providing resources to best support you.  

In some cases, the next step may be to speak with an attorney. If this is the next step for your situation, we will determine if you qualify for free legal services or if you are outside of the financial requirement limits. If you do not meet the financial qualifications, we will provide you with a referral source for private attorneys who you may contact directly should you decide to do so.  We have created and made available on the David’s Law tab of this website fillable forms that make it easy for private attorneys to take these cases which in turn should reduce the amount of time and fees charged to you.  Creating an extensive timeline and knowing who the perpetrators are, their parents’ names and addresses should also help lower your legal fees.  

If you qualify for a pro bono attorney, we will do our best to connect you as quickly as possible but it may take up to 10 days due to availability since we rely on volunteers to provide the manpower for this project.  You will need to provide the attorney an extensive timeline, the names of the bullies and their parent’s names as well as their addresses so that the attorney can assist you.  You may also be asked to provide screenshots or other evidence.

HOW DO I MOTIVATE MY SCHOOL TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR MY CHILD?

It’s usually best to start by talking with the teachers and coaches, and then work your way up through the system – i.e., assistant principal, principal, superintendent, and ultimately the school board. If you believe your child’s school has a serious bullying issue then the higher you go in that process, the more important it will be for you to have other like-minded parents joining you in the effort. If you go through the entire chain of command without satisfactory action, you might consider filing a grievance but be aware these have time sensitive requirements.

You may also consider getting involved in your school’s anti-bullying committee to help bring about positive change on your child’s campus.  SB 2050 passed in 2021, requires all schools in Texas to have a committee and gives them various responsibilities.  You can learn more on the David’s Law tab on this website.  

In extreme situations where you’re not getting appropriate action from the school, you could even consider contacting a local newspaper or TV station that has reporters who focus on troubleshooting community issues.

Check out our Advocating for Your Child here.

HOW DO I SUE THE SCHOOL OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The mission of the DBM Project is to make bullying stop so DBM Project pro bono attorneys generally don’t take directly adversarial positions against schools; that is typically beyond the scope of what they do.  The reason for this is that we frequently need to work cooperatively with schools, and if we were to directly take on schools through formal grievances, lawsuits or otherwise, that cooperative relationship we try to foster will likely be undermined, as we would develop a reputation for going after schools.  Therefore, if you would like to pursue that route, you would want to engage a private lawyer for that. Please note that there are various deadlines for taking action, which the attorney you hire to go against the school can explain to you in further detail.  To find an attorney who specializes in this area you may contact the State Bar of Texas, your local bar association, or Google “school attorney”.

WHAT IS THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON THE INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR DAVID'S LAW?

A “statute of limitations” is the deadline by which a particular matter must be filed with the court and that deadline is set by a particular state law. David’s Law does not have a deadline stated in it.  Instead, David’s Law is designed to be a law that is used to stop bullying.

As an example, if a bully is bullying a target, David’s Law will be more effective the closer in time to when the bullying is occurring.  While there is not a “Statute of Limitations” or, in layman’s terms, a specific deadline to file an action under David’s Law, as an example, if bullying occurs, then completely stops, and the target does not seek action under David’s law until a year later and there has been no bullying in a year . . . At the end of the day, the target would be asking a judge to enter an order under David’s Law to make the bullying stop.  Under that set of facts, a judge would likely find that there is no reason to enter an order to make the bullying stop because the bullying has already stopped.  When it comes to asking a court for an order such as this, courts do not typically enter orders to “stop” something that has already stopped.  With that said, these types of cases are very fact specific and each case can be very different.  A DBM Project attorney can review the particular facts of a case and advise accordingly based on those specific facts.

HOW DO I TAKE CRIMINAL ACTION?

You should contact local law enforcement to file a report and to possibly have charges brought against the bully, but keep in mind that it’s not always easy to convince law enforcement officials that they should take-action, and ultimately that decision rests with them.

Still need help? Please complete the form below. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

The DBM Project stands for The Don’t Bully Me Project and is also our inspiration’s initials – David Bartlett Molak

Get Help

I am a Student

If you are a victim of bullying or cyberbullying know you did not do anything to deserve it nor is it your fault.  You are not alone in how you are feeling and we are here to help you through it.  Reaching out for help from a trusted adult is not something to be ashamed of and counseling and support groups can help you deal with the challenges.  Ask for help.  Reach out. Know you are very loved and there are people who care deeply and want to help you.

I am a Parent

Being the parent of a child being bullied or who is suffering emotionally is a tough situation to deal with.  At David’s Legacy Foundation we want to help however we can.  In order to help you with your situation, we are providing articles and resources that can help you recognize the signs, protect your children, and learn how to work with your child’s school.  The most important thing is you and your child’s mental health. 

I am an Educator

Educators are often on the front lines of cyberbullying as you watch your students deal with the complexities of school, home life, and their constant connection to the digital world.  It’s hard to know how to help or even where to start.  We have put together a collection of resources to help you prevent cyberbullying by educating your students, providing lessons to your teachers and counselors, and information about protections.