Call to Action

Section 1. Purpose

Institutional child abuse undermines the safety, well-being, and rights of minors in the United States and abroad, necessitating decisive federal action. This order establishes a National Reporting Hotline and a centralized Institutional Child Abuse Database to enhance oversight, transparency, and enforcement against abuse, neglect, and maltreatment in residential care facilities. These initiatives provide federal resources to supplement state authority and foster seamless cross-jurisdictional coordination, ensuring no facility escapes accountability due to jurisdictional gaps.

Section 2. Policy

It is the policy of the United States to safeguard minors in all residential care settings, including residential treatment programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and other congregate care environments. This Administration prioritizes a comprehensive, federally supported system for reporting, tracking, and analyzing incidents of institutional child abuse to close accountability gaps and secure justice for victims.

Section 3. National Reporting Hotline and Database

(a) National Reporting Hotline
HHS shall establish and operate a 24/7 National Reporting Hotline, staffed by trained professionals capable of triaging reports of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment within residential facilities. Reports shall be documented, tracked, and routed to the appropriate authorities, ensuring timely and effective interventions.

(b) Institutional Child Abuse Database
HHS shall create and maintain a secure and centralized database for recording and tracking all reports of institutional child abuse. The database shall integrate with state systems and enable authorized federal, state, and local authorities to access comprehensive, up-to-date data to guide enforcement and oversight efforts.

(c) Confidentiality and Data Protection
The database shall strictly adhere to all applicable federal and state data protection laws, employing advanced encryption and anonymization protocols to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of sensitive information.

Section 4. Federal Support for State and Local Oversight

(a) Enhanced Collaboration and Data Sharing
The Institutional Child Abuse Database will promote real-time data sharing among federal, state, and local authorities, eliminating jurisdictional delays in investigating and responding to reports.

(b) State Grant Program
HHS shall administer grants to assist states in upgrading their technological infrastructure, integrating local reporting systems with the federal database, and training personnel to ensure compliance with federal reporting standards.

(c) Standardized Reporting Protocols
HHS, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, shall establish mandatory, uniform reporting guidelines for documenting and investigating abuse allegations. All facilities receiving federal funding or operating in multiple states must adhere to these protocols to ensure consistent data collection and prompt accountability.

Section 5. Interagency Task Force on Institutional Child Protection

(a) Establishment and Membership
An Interagency Task Force on Institutional Child Protection shall be formed, comprising representatives from HHS, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and other relevant federal entities.

(b) Responsibilities
The Task Force shall:

1. Develop strategies to leverage the National Database and Hotline to their fullest potential.
2. Create enforceable national reporting standards that are binding across states.
3. Facilitate interstate and cross-border investigations, ensuring no facility operates unchecked due to jurisdictional complexities.
4. Coordinate with the Department of State to address abuse involving U.S. minors in international residential facilities.
5. Provide Congress with detailed annual reports on emerging abuse patterns, enforcement challenges, and recommended policy changes.

Section 6. Interstate and International Coordination

(a) Binding Interstate Agreements
The Task Force, in collaboration with state attorneys general, shall implement binding interstate agreements to ensure swift and consistent responses to abuse reports across state lines.

(b) International Oversight and Enforcement
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General and Task Force, shall ensure that international facilities serving U.S. minors are subject to the same oversight and enforcement standards as domestic facilities. Diplomatic efforts shall prioritize protecting U.S. minors and holding operators accountable under applicable U.S. and international laws.

Section 7. Public Awareness and Education

HHS, in partnership with the Department of Education, shall launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign to:

1. Educate families on risks associated with unregulated or poorly monitored residential care facilities.
2. Provide resources for evaluating facility safety and transparency.
3. Promote widespread awareness of the National Reporting Hotline and Database as tools for protection and accountability.

Section 8. Research and Reporting

(a) Data Analysis and Recommendations
HHS shall use data from the database to identify systemic abuse patterns, monitor facility compliance trends, and develop evidence-based recommendations for targeted interventions and policy reforms.

(b) Annual Congressional Report
The Interagency Task Force shall submit a detailed annual report to Congress, highlighting data trends, enforcement progress, unresolved challenges, and actionable recommendations for legislative or administrative improvements.