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 Presentation

• Presentation to “Abuse of Youth in Residential Treatment: A Call to Action,” by Robert Friedman, February 19. 2009.

Letters to Congress

• Government Accountability Office 10/10/07
• Mental Health Professionals
• Family Members
• Youth
• Letter to Representative Miller, Chariman, House Committee on Education and Labor

Government Resources of Interest

• Government Accountability Office Report 10/07
• Government Accountability Office Report 05/07
• FTC Facts to Consider 07/08