To study and prevent child abuse in youth residential programs, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to hire the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive, ongoing study of child abuse, neglect, and deaths in youth residential programs. The study will examine wilderness therapy programs, boot camps, therapeutic boarding schools, and other residential facilities that serve vulnerable youth, and will produce reports every two years for a decade with recommendations for better oversight and safer alternatives.
Who Benefits and How
Youth placed in residential programs (particularly those with mental health conditions, disabilities, or substance use issues) benefit from increased federal attention to their safety and wellbeing. Families of these youth benefit from recommendations for community-based alternatives that could keep children closer to home. Child advocacy organizations and protection and advocacy systems gain influence through required consultation in the study process. The National Academies receives federal funding to conduct the research.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Youth residential program operators--including wilderness therapy companies, therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, and behavioral modification facilities--face increased scrutiny and potential future regulation based on the study's findings. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the National Academies contract. State child welfare agencies and licensing bodies may need to participate in data coordination and implement new best practices identified by the study.
Key Provisions
- Mandates a contract with the National Academies within 45 days of enactment to study abuse in youth residential programs
- Requires reports every 2 years for 10 years identifying the scope of abuse, deaths, and neglect in these facilities
- Covers a broad range of residential programs: wilderness therapy, boot camps, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and alternatives to incarceration for youth
- Requires consultation with survivors, advocates, healthcare professionals, tribal organizations, and multiple federal agencies
- Calls for recommendations on reducing restraint and seclusion practices, improving training, and developing community-based alternatives to residential placement
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study on child abuse, neglect, and deaths in youth residential programs and make recommendations for improved oversight and community-based alternatives.
Who Benefits
- Youth in residential programs (protection from abuse and neglect)
- Families of youth with mental health and disability needs (community-based alternatives)
- Child advocates and protection organizations
Who Bears Costs
- Youth residential program operators (increased scrutiny and potential regulation)
- Federal government (funding for National Academies contract)
- Wilderness therapy programs and therapeutic boarding schools
Key Policy Areas
Child Welfare, Youth Services, Health and Human Services, Federal Oversight, Mental Health
Primary Purpose
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study on child abuse, neglect, and deaths in youth residential programs and make recommendations for improved oversight and community-based alternatives.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Create comprehensive federal oversight and study mechanism for youth residential programs through National Academies research, with focus on identifying abuse, improving standards, and developing community-based alternatives"
Identified Gains
- Youth in residential programs (protection from abuse and neglect)
- Families of youth with mental health and disability needs (community-based alternatives)
- Child advocates and protection organizations
- State child welfare agencies (improved data coordination and best practices)
Identified Costs
- Youth residential program operators (increased scrutiny and potential regulation)
- Federal government (funding for National Academies contract)
- Wilderness therapy programs and therapeutic boarding schools
- Boot camp programs and behavioral modification facilities
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Luján, Mr. Tuberville, …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Child advocacy organizations and protection and advocacy systems
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Health and Human Services
- "national_academies"
- → National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note)
Has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002)
Have the meanings given such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)
A system established by a State or Indian Tribe under section 143 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15043)
Each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
An individual who has not attained the age of 22
Each location of a facility or program operated by a public or private entity that provides a residential environment (wilderness programs, boot camps, therapeutic boarding schools, behavioral modification programs, residential treatment centers, psychiatric residential treatment programs, group homes, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, or alternatives to incarceration) and serves youth with emotional/behavioral/mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or intellectual/developmental/physical/sensory disabilities. Excludes hospitals licensed by a State and foster family homes.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology