WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have cosponsored bipartisan legislation to reduce institutional child abuse in residential treatment centers. The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act would provide greater oversight and data transparency for youth treatment programs, implement urgent recommendations to develop information-sharing systems among states, and promote best practices for identifying and preventing institutional child abuse.

“Tragically, families across our country have reported that their children have experienced horrifying incidents of abuse when seeking treatment for substance, behavioral, and mental health challenges,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would address this urgent issue through the promotion of best practices and increased oversight of youth treatment programs to help to ensure the safety of all children while they seek the care they need.”

“Children across the nation deserve a safe and supportive environment to learn and grow during their formative years — especially children already working through mental and behavioral health challenges,” said Senator King. “The bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act would provide greater government oversight of residential treatment facilities that help treat our children dealing with these conditions. Thanks to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working to ensure that all Maine children, and children across the country, feel safe at live-in organizations that aim to help our children succeed.”

“We know that children are abused in residential institutions every year.  We know the abuse takes the form of restraints, isolation, and neglecting kids’ needs. We don’t know much else - there is gravely inadequate oversight. The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act shines a light onto youth residential institutions and charts a course towards safe, effective treatment that is close to home. We applaud Senators Collins and King for their commitment to kids,” said Ben Jones, J.D., Director of Legal and Policy Initiatives at Lives in the Balance.

More specifically, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act would:

1. Establish the Federal Work Group on Youth Residential Programs, comprised of representatives from the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and other relevant federal agencies.
2. Direct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the use of restraints, seclusion, and other restrictive interventions in youth residential programs.

The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act is sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) have also joined as cosponsors.

Bill text can be found here.

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