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A START NewsThe Committee on Education and Labor of the U.S. House of Representatives A START ResourcesA START Factsheet with warnings to parents considering Residential Placement Contact UsFor more info, contact Dr. Robert Friedman |
An alarming residential care phenomenon that has been occurring since the early 1990s has been linked to reports of mistreatment, abuse, and death.A START, the Alliance for the Safe, Therapeutic, and Appropriate Use of Residential Treatment, is an organization of mental health professionals, parents, advocates, and young adults who came together in 2005 amidst growing concern about mistreatment of youth in residential programs. These concerns were reinforced in hearings held in 2007 and 2008 by the Committee on Education and Labor of the U.S. House of Representatives. During these hearings, Committee Chairman George Miller described the practices in some of these programs in simple and powerful terms as “inhumane.” The concerns were further documented in reports prepared by the Government Accountability Office, in which the GAO reported that allegations of abuse were widespread, and that “the current federal-state oversight situation is inadequate to protect youth from maltreatment” (see links below). A START seeks to increase awareness of this problem, promote protections for children and families, and provide information about residential programs and community-based alternatives so that parents and youth can make the best choices. As part of this mission, A START strives to gather data on practices within residential care, the marketing of residential programs, and the impact of these programs on young people. We hope that the information contained in this website is of help to you, and invite your questions, comments, and assistance. The A START coordinator is Dr. Bob Friedman and he may be contacted at 813 974-4671. Special PresentationLetters to Congress
Government Resources of Interest |
| The Alliance for the Safe, Therapeutic and Appropriate use of Residential Treatment (A START) is sponsored by the Department of Child and Family Studies of the University of South Florida. The Alliance now includes leaders in psychology, psychiatry, nursing, mental health law, policy and family advocacy, as well as individuals with direct program experience as director, evaluator, parent or participant in such programs. | |