Dear Friends,
We are a group of future Social Workers from Virginia Commonwealth University who are passionate in advocating for social justice. We are excited about the opportunity to share information about The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 (H.R. 6358).
Investigations by the Government Accountability Office have uncovered thousands of cases and allegations of child abuse in recent years at teen residential programs across the country, including therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, wilderness camps, and behavior modification facilities. Currently, these programs are governed only by a weak patchwork of state and federal standards. The GAO has found major gaps in the licensing and oversight of residential programs %u2013 some of which are exempt from state licensing standards altogether.
The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 (H.R. 6358), which the House passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 318 to 103, would establish minimum standards for preventing child abuse and neglect at teen residential programs. It would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate complaints of child abuse and neglect at residential programs and to issue penalties against programs that violate the new standards. The bill calls for states, within three years, to take on the responsibility of setting and enforcing standards for youth residential programs.
The legislation would also help ensure that parents have the information about teen residential programs that they need to make safer choices for their children.
We will send the petition with your signatures to all 100 US Senators prior to its hearing in the Senate. We are seeking support so that we can demonstrate to our senators the importance of this Bill.
For additional information, please visit our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34779118826
Thank You so much for your support!
Ju Liu
Amber
John Pavco
Nazia
