Donate<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>These reports represent hundreds of hours of research by the Unsilenced Investigative Research Team.<\/strong> 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>Donate<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Completed by:<\/p>\n
The Unsilenced Investigative Research Team<\/p><\/h4><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>The Troubled Teen Industry in Massachusetts<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Impact Report<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>2022<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Impact Report<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>2022<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>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><\/div><\/div><\/div>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>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>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><\/div><\/div><\/div>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>
![](\"https:\/\/www.unsilenced.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Massachusetts-Capitol-Desktop.jpg\" "\\"Massachusetts")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Massachusetts Statistics<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>$249+<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Million Dollars<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Massachusetts spends<\/strong><\/a> every year placing youth in Residential Facilities despite evidence indicating that these facilities are ineffective.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>$330<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Per Day Per Child<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Massachusetts pays facilities on average<\/strong> <\/a>and advocates report that the state spends up to $700 per day for children with complex needs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>3,645<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Children Under 12<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>placed<\/a><\/strong> in residential facilities through <\/span>Child Welfare programs in 2019<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>288<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Juvenile Justice Youth<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>placed<\/strong><\/a> in residential facilities through Juvenile Justice programs in 2019<\/p>\n\n- 135 minors<\/strong><\/a> were committed to a residential facility as part of a court ordered disposition<\/li>\n
- 126 minors<\/strong><\/a> were detained in a residential facility while awaiting a court hearing, adjudication, disposition or placement elsewhere<\/li>\n
- 24 minors<\/a><\/strong> were voluntarily admitted to a residential facility in lieu of adjudication as part of a diversion agreement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/www.unsilenced.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Massachusetts-Capitol-Mobile.jpg\" "\\"Massachusetts")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
These reports represent hundreds of hours of research by the Unsilenced Investigative Research Team.<\/strong> 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> Completed by:<\/p>\n The Unsilenced Investigative Research Team<\/p><\/h4><\/span> 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> 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> Massachusetts spends<\/strong><\/a> every year placing youth in Residential Facilities despite evidence indicating that these facilities are ineffective.<\/p>\n<\/div> Massachusetts pays facilities on average<\/strong> <\/a>and advocates report that the state spends up to $700 per day for children with complex needs.<\/p>\n<\/div> placed<\/a><\/strong> in residential facilities through <\/span>Child Welfare programs in 2019<\/p>\n<\/div> placed<\/strong><\/a> in residential facilities through Juvenile Justice programs in 2019<\/p>\nThe Troubled Teen Industry in Massachusetts<\/h1><\/span>
Impact Report<\/h1><\/span>
2022<\/h1><\/span>
Impact Report<\/h1><\/span>
2022<\/h1><\/span>
Introduction<\/h1><\/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>
Introduction<\/h1><\/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>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Massachusetts Statistics<\/h1><\/span>
$249+<\/h1><\/span>
Million Dollars<\/h2><\/span>
$330<\/h1><\/span>
Per Day Per Child<\/h2><\/span>
3,645<\/h1><\/span>
Children Under 12<\/h2><\/span>
288<\/h1><\/span>
Juvenile Justice Youth<\/h2><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>