COALITION AGAINST INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD ABUSE
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Letter to Congress

August 11, 2005

Dear Member of Congress:

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and our 900 member child-caring, public and private agencies nationwide have serious concerns about the growing number of unlicensed residential programs and camps for troubled children and youth, often referred to as therapeutic boarding schools or boot camps. Recent publicity, i.e. the current "Brat Camp" television show, has highlighted the use of these programs. Unfortunately, this publicity is lulling parents into a comfort level about the use of these facilities that, in many instances, is unwarranted. We believe that Congress needs to take action to ensure the safety of the children participating in these programs by requesting that the U.S. Government Accountability Office conduct an investigation.

These programs are often unregulated by an appropriate state agency or held accountable to any recognized accrediting organization. Allegations of neglect and abuse at many of these programs include the inappropriate use of medications, the employment of vigorous physical means of restraint, or individual seclusion or isolation. Questions are often also raised about the credentials of the employees who staff these programs.

These unlicensed programs use aggressive marketing techniques that target the parents of troubled youth who have problems with substance abuse or behavior disorders, promising cures at a high cost to the families. While research has demonstrated that consistent family involvement is a major element in producing positive outcomes for children and families, many of these programs limit or restrict family involvement for long periods of time, sometimes for the entire length of time a child is in the program.

CWLA strongly supports mandatory state licensing and monitoring of all residential programs that provide services to children, youth, and their families. Most importantly, such licensing and monitoring should be done by the appropriate state agency that governs the specific service to be provided by a program, including education, mental health, social services, and juvenile justice. Licensing and monitoring should be required for all programs, not just those receiving government funds. This requirement is necessary to ensure the safety and health of our children and youth.

CWLA's Standards of Excellence for Residential Services detail best practice guidelines for the residential program services that are provided to children and youth. These standards address many issues, including state licensing and monitoring; types of services; qualifications of the staff providing the services; orientation, training, and supervision of staff; staff to child ratios; appropriate and prohibited behavior support and interventions; and use of medications. CWLA's Standards of Excellence are often used by state agencies in developing and revising licensing regulations.

Since there is little public oversight of these residential programs and camps for troubled children and youth, we do not yet know the full scope of the problem. Therefore, CWLA urges you to call on the U.S. General Accountability Office to conduct a study of these facilities so we can understand what needs to be done to better protect the children and youth participating in these programs. CWLA also stands ready to work with you and other members of Congress to better ensure the safety and well-being of our nation's children.

Sincerely,

Shay Bilchik

President and CEO

 
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REFERRALS: CAICA is not a referral agency. CAICA does not refer to or promote facilities or transport companies for children or teens. CAICA warns parents that the parent pay / parent choice programs ie. Residential Treatment Centers, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Behavior Modification Programs, Christian Programs, Positive Peer Culture Programs, etc., are not regulated by the Federal Government and that it is a "Buyer Beware" industry. CAICA provides the following for parents: Message to Parents, Help for Distraught and Desperate Parents, and Questions to Ask and Warning Signs.

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