- Target:
- United States Congress
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- icapanetwork.org
Residential and wilderness facilities caring for at-risk youth present a distressing prevalence of physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse and neglect. Regulatory gaps, inconsistent definitions, and communication barriers between agencies exacerbate this issue. The problem is further magnified by inadequately trained personnel and understaffing in residential facilities, leading to unsafe environments for vulnerable youth. A lack of standardized data collection affects incident reporting, intervention, and the ability to track and prevent abuse. Existing policies fail to provide sufficient protection for institutionalized youth, rendering them exceptionally vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment.
Over the years, the "Troubled Teen Industry" has evaded effective regulation and oversight, primarily due to significant gaps in the existing regulatory framework. These facilities often exist in a regulatory gray area, permitting them to elude the scrutiny and accountability they desperately need. As a result, many children in these facilities do not receive the necessary oversight and protection they deserve.
The Institutional Child Abuse Prevention Act (ICAPA) seeks to address the critical issue of institutional child abuse occurring within residential or outdoor wilderness programs that provide care for children by amending the existing Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to specifically address institutional child abuse as a distinct category of child abuse. This amendment introduces mandatory reporting requirements and preventive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of children under the care of such institutions. The Institutional Child Abuse Prevention Act’s function within CAPTA is to address the gap in protecting children in institutional care. By creating specific provisions for institutional child abuse it strengthens reporting, prevention, and accountability measures in these settings. The implications are significant, as it holds institutions responsible for ensuring the welfare and safety of the children under their care, and enforces immediate action against violators, thereby contributing to a safer and more secure environment for vulnerable youth.
We, the undersigned, petition Congress to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to include the following provisions:
SHORT TITLE
This Act shall be known as the Institutional Child Abuse Prevention Act.
SEC 3. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. [42 U.S.C. 5101, Note]
We propose the addition to Section 3 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act which states:
(A) Institutional Child Abuse: — For purposes of this Act the term “institutional child abuse” means the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child in an institution responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
SEC. 102. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY WORKGROUP ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
We propose the addition to Section 102 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act which states:
Duties– The Federal Interagency Work Group shall coordinate Federal efforts with respect to institutional child abuse prevention.
Reports– The Federal Interagency Work Group shall include reports of institutional child abuse not less than twice annually to the Center and The Board.
SEC. 106. GRANTS TO STATES FOR CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS. [42 U.S.C. § 5106a(b)(2)(B)(i)]
We propose the following addition to Section 106(b)(2)(i) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which states:
(1) Institutions must report suspected institutional child abuse to the designated state agency, as defined in this act, as soon as possible, but not later than 48 hours after the institution has cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to institutional child abuse.
SEC. 108. MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ASSISTANCE. [42 U.S.C.5106d]
We propose the addition to section 108 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which states:
(A) The Secretary of Health and Human Services must provide technical assistance to institutions and entities receiving funds under this Act for the development and implementation of policies and procedures to prevent and respond to institutional child abuse and neglect.
(i) The designated state agency shall maintain records on suspected institutional child abuse and make such records available to the public upon request, with redaction of any identifying information about the child, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary and as added by this Act.
SEC. 114. DEFINITIONS. [42 US.C. 5106g]
For purposes of this Act–
We propose the following additions to “Definitions” to section 114 to include subtypes of institutional child abuse for reporting and data collection purposes:
(1) INSTITUTION.— The term “institution” in the context of this act means a facility or outdoor program operated by a public or private entity that provides 24-hour care to youth.
(2) INSTITUTIONAL PHYSICAL ABUSE.— The term “institutional physical abuse” means any intentional act resulting in physical harm, injury, or pain which may include hitting, punching, strangulation, suffocation, kicking, shoving, slapping, burning, using excessive force, improper use of restraint, tasers, electric skin shock devices or any other actions or techniques that cause bodily injury, suffering, extreme exhaustion or endanger the child's physical well-being.
(A) IMPROPER USE OF RESTRAINT.— The term “improper use of restraint” means the inappropriate use of physical, chemical, or mechanical restraints, not medically authorized, for convenience or discipline, or contrary to federal or state licensing requirements.
(B) IMPROPER PHYSICAL RESTRAINT.—The term ‘‘physical restraint’’ means a personal restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability of an individual to move the individual’s arms, legs, torso, or head freely, except that such term does not include mechanical restraint or chemical restraint.
(C) IMPROPER CHEMICAL RESTRAINT.— The term ‘‘chemical restraint’’ means a drug or medication used on a child to control behavior or restrict freedom of movement that is not—
(i) prescribed by a licensed physician, or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional’s authority under State law, for the standard treatment of a child's medical or psychiatric condition; and administered as prescribed by the licensed physician or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional’s authority under State law.
(D) IMPROPER MECHANICAL RESTRAINT.— The term “mechanical restraint” means the use of devices as a means of restricting a child’s freedom of movement.
(3) INSTITUTIONAL SEXUAL ABUSE.— The term “institutional sexual abuse” means nonconsensual sexual conduct, such as unwanted touching, rape, molestation, indecent liberties, sexual coercion, explicit photographing or recording, voyeurism, indecent exposure, non-medical genital exams; including any sexual conduct between a staff member and a child in the facility, regardless of claimed consent.
(4) INSTITUTIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE.— The term “institutional psychological abuse” means the intentional verbal or nonverbal actions that threaten, humiliate, harass, coerce, intimidate, isolate, confine, or punish a child, cruel and unusual punishment, including misusing therapeutic practices that result in mental injury.
(A) CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT. — The term “cruel and unusual punishment” refers to any punishment, discipline, or treatment administered within institutional care that, by its nature or severity, causes physical or psychological harm or suffering to a child and it encompasses actions or omissions that are disproportionately severe, humiliating, or degrading in nature, to an extent that exceeds accepted societal norms, reasonable disciplinary measures, or contemporary interpretations of decency, human rights, and child welfare.
(5) INSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT.— The term “institutional neglect” means acts or failures to act by an institution resulting in death, severe physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an imminent risk of serious harm, including but not limited to medical neglect.
(A) INSTITUTIONAL MEDICAL NEGLECT.— The term “institutional medical neglect” means the failure to seek or provide medical, dental, or psychiatric care necessary to prevent serious harm, including but not limited to improper use of medication or sedation.
We, the undersigned, urge Congress to adopt these critical amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to protect our children from institutional child abuse and ensure their safety and well-being.
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The Pass the Institutional Child Abuse Prevention Act petition to United States Congress was written by ICAPA Network and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.