National Hotline & Institutional Child Abuse Database

Section 1. Purpose
Institutional child abuse presents a grave threat to the safety, well-being, and development of minors within the United States and abroad. This Executive Order establishes a National Reporting Hotline and a centralized Institutional Child Abuse Database to strengthen oversight, improve transparency, and facilitate enforcement against abuse, neglect, and maltreatment in residential facilities. These measures aim to complement state jurisdiction while providing federal support for cross-jurisdictional collaboration to protect vulnerable youth, particularly in facilities operating across state or international borders.

Section 2. Policy
It is the policy of the United States to prioritize the protection of minors in residential treatment programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and other congregate care settings. This Administration is committed to fostering a robust, centralized framework for reporting, data collection, and analysis, which will enhance state and local oversight, promote accountability, and ensure justice for victims of institutional child abuse.

Section 3. National Reporting Hotline and Database
(a) National Reporting Hotline
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall establish and operate a 24/7 National Reporting Hotline for receiving reports of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment within residential facilities. Trained personnel will provide support to minors, families, and mandated reporters, ensuring complaints are directed to appropriate authorities for timely intervention.

(b) Institutional Child Abuse Database
HHS shall develop and maintain a secure, centralized database to document reports of institutional child abuse. This resource will enable authorized federal, state, and local authorities to monitor trends, enforce compliance, and guide oversight efforts.

(c) Confidentiality and Data Protection
The database will adhere to stringent confidentiality and privacy protocols, fully complying with federal and state data protection laws to safeguard sensitive information.

Section 4. Federal Support for State and Local Oversight
(a) Collaboration and Data Sharing
The database will facilitate seamless collaboration among state and local agencies by offering shared access to abuse reports, enhancing coordination across jurisdictions.

(b) Grant Program for Integration
HHS shall establish a grant program to assist states in upgrading technological infrastructure and training personnel to integrate their reporting systems with the National Database.

(c) National Reporting Standards
HHS, in consultation with the Department of Justice, shall develop standardized guidelines for documenting and reporting abuse allegations to ensure uniformity in data collection and support preventative measures.

Section 5. Interagency Task Force on Institutional Child Protection
(a) Establishment and Membership
An Interagency Task Force on Institutional Child Protection is hereby created, 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:

• Guide states in leveraging the National Database and Hotline effectively.
• Develop national incident reporting standards.
• Strengthen enforcement mechanisms for cross-state abuse cases.
• Collaborate with the Department of State to address international abuse involving U.S. minors.
• Submit annual reports to Congress on systemic patterns, findings, and recommendations.

Section 6. Interstate and International Coordination
(a) Interstate Agreements
The Task Force, in partnership with state attorneys general, shall establish agreements to facilitate interstate response to abuse reports.

(b) International Oversight
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall use the database to support diplomatic efforts protecting U.S. minors in international TTI facilities, ensuring enforcement and accountability worldwide.

Section 7. Public Awareness and Education
HHS and the Department of Education shall launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign to educate families about the risks associated with certain residential facilities, provide resources for identifying safe care options, and promote awareness of the National Reporting Hotline and Database.

Section 8. Research and Reporting
(a) Data Analysis
HHS shall leverage data from the database to identify systemic patterns of abuse and develop evidence-based recommendations for targeted oversight and intervention.

(b) Annual Congressional Report
The Task Force shall publish an annual report summarizing data trends, progress in combating institutional child abuse, and strategies for further reform.