{"id":19089,"date":"2022-06-23T17:10:39","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T00:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unsilenced.org\/?p=19089"},"modified":"2022-06-23T17:12:08","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T00:12:08","slug":"georgia-legislation-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unsilenced.org\/georgia-legislation-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Legislation Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As you review this report, please consider donating. Your contribution will help us continue our work advocating for survivors and youth. Every donation makes an impact, no matter the size. Thank you for your support!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Completed by:<\/p>\n

The Unsilenced Policy Team<\/p><\/h4><\/span>

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Georgia Legislation Report<\/h1><\/span>
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2022<\/h1><\/span>
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2022<\/h1><\/span>
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Introduction<\/h1><\/span>
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The ‘troubled teen’ industry is a network of residential programs that claim to provide treatment for the behavioral and developmental needs of youth. The industry\u2019s lack of transparency and accountability has led to widespread abuse of youth, resulting in hospitalizations, prolonged trauma and death.<\/h3><\/span>
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Today, there are an estimated 120,000 – 200,000 minors in residential programs across the United States. These youth are placed each year by state child welfare agencies, juvenile justice courts, mental health providers, refugee resettlement agencies, school districts\u2019 individualized education programs, and by parents.<\/p>\n

Many of these youth have trauma histories, which are only exacerbated by being removed from their communities and institutionalized. Youth with lived experience describe these programs as being carceral, harsh, and abusive.<\/p>\n

An estimated $23 billion dollars of public funds annually are used to place youth in residential programs. Daily rates for residential treatment ranges from $250-$800, costing up to $292,000 per year, per child.<\/p>\n

It is overwhelmingly clear that our communities and agencies are over-relying on residential placements that are negatively impacting the youth they serve.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Introduction<\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>

The ‘troubled teen’ industry is a network of residential programs that claim to provide treatment for the behavioral and developmental needs of youth. The industry\u2019s lack of transparency and accountability has led to widespread abuse of youth, resulting in hospitalizations, prolonged trauma and death.<\/h3><\/span>
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Today, there are an estimated 120,000 – 200,000 minors in residential programs across the United States. These youth are placed each year by state child welfare agencies, juvenile justice courts, mental health providers, refugee resettlement agencies, school districts\u2019 individualized education programs, and by parents.<\/p>\n

Many of these youth have trauma histories, which are only exacerbated by being removed from their communities and institutionalized. Youth with lived experience describe these programs as being carceral, harsh, and abusive.<\/p>\n

An estimated $23 billion dollars of public funds annually are used to place youth in residential programs. Daily rates for residential treatment ranges from $250-$800, costing up to $292,000 per year, per child.<\/p>\n

It is overwhelmingly clear that our communities and agencies are over-relying on residential placements that are negatively impacting the youth they serve.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Georgia Legislation<\/h1><\/span>
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<\/i><\/i><\/span>Child Caring Institutions (CCIs)<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n General Oversight and Transparency <\/td>\n \n Subject to 290-2-5 Rules and Regulations<\/a> <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Oversight Agency <\/td>\n \n Department\u2019s Residential Child Care Licensing (RCCL) and Department of Human Services (DHS) <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Which state agency oversees investigations? <\/td>\n \n Department of Human Services (DHS)<\/a> <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are investigations and outcomes visible to the public online? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are religious congregate care programs required to be licensed? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is this type of program required to be licensed by the state? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is a list of licensed facilities available to the public? <\/td>\n \n Yes<\/a> <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are regulations only applicable to facilities receiving public funds? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Can complaints be filed online? Is the reporting portal easy to find? <\/td>\n \n Yes, but it is not easy to find<\/a> <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state conduct unannounced site visits? How many per year? <\/td>\n \n Yes, but the amount is not specified <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are background checks required, including volunteers? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is a full-time licensed clinician required to be on staff? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require a guardian's consent to all treatment received? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require that the guardian be notified of an emergency involving their child within 24-hours of the incident occurring? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require notification within 24-hours of a program admitting, discharging or major treatment change for children under its care? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is a licensed clinician required to perform a mental health evaluation upon intake? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require mandatory child abuse response training for all staff working with children in residential settings? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require medical response training for all staff working with children in residential settings? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does state require 1:4 staffing ratio or higher? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Ban on Conversion Therapy for LGBTQA+ youth? <\/td>\n \n No<\/a> <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are there admissions requirements? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are the guardian & admitted child required to be informed of their their rights? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state define institutional abuse and neglect? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are there civil penalties for violations of institutional child abuse and neglect? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state prohibit mail censorship? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Do the youth have unrestricted access to guardians, legal counsel, welfare advocates, religious clergy, friends and family via telephone? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require that children be allowed visitors in private during normal visiting hours? <\/td>\n \n No <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is the facility required to provide an individualized treatment plan? Is the plan reviewed regularly? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is medical and psychological experimentation on youth prohibited without the express consent of all involved parties? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is it required that youth receive education that is of the same quality and outcomes as their assigned public school? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is it required that youth receive age-appropriate sexual education, access to sexual healthcare, and menstruation supplies? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Are youth provided with access to advocacy services and representation? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state require a guardian's consent to all treatment received? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is a grievance procedure required for youth and families? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is youth consent required for all treatment received? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Does the state have zoning and occupancy requirements for structures being used to house youth in residential settings? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is there regulation for physical restraint? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is there regulation for chemical restraint? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is there regulation for mechanical restraint? <\/td>\n \n Yes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Is there a Bill of Rights for youth in care? <\/td>\n \n Not specifically. However, there are some rights provided through the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-183) O.C.G.A. \u00a7 49-5-3 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n<\/div>