Dear Congress,

Institutional child abuse in residential care facilities, including therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment programs, and congregate care environments, represents a persistent threat to the safety, well-being, and rights of minors in the United States and abroad. Current oversight is fragmented, with gaps in jurisdiction, inconsistent reporting standards, and limited accountability mechanisms. 

This roadmap proposes a federal reform strategy to establish comprehensive reporting, data tracking, oversight, and enforcement systems, ensuring that all facilities are held to consistent standards and that survivors have accessible avenues for protection and redress.

1.1 National Reporting Hotline

• Create a 24/7 National Reporting Hotline under HHS, staffed by trained professionals.
• Ensure timely triage and routing of reports to appropriate federal, state, or local authorities.
• Standardize documentation procedures to maintain accuracy and accountability.
   

1.2 Institutional Child Abuse Database

• Develop a secure, centralized federal database to record all reports of abuse in residential care facilities.
• Integrate with state systems to allow real-time information sharing and cross-jurisdictional coordination.
• Employ robust data protection protocols, including encryption and anonymization, to protect survivors and reporters.
   

1.3 Confidentiality and Security

• Comply with all federal and state privacy laws.
• Provide controlled access to authorized personnel only.
• Ensure data is used for oversight, enforcement, and evidence-based policy development.
   

2.1 Collaboration and Data Sharing

• Enable seamless coordination between federal, state, and local authorities through the database.
• Establish protocols to prevent delays in investigations and enforcement.
   

2.2 State Grant Program

• Provide federal grants for technological upgrades, integration with the national database, and personnel training.
• Support states in achieving compliance with standardized reporting and oversight protocols.
   

2.3 Standardized Reporting Protocols

• Implement uniform federal reporting standards for documenting and investigating allegations.
• Require adherence from all facilities operating in multiple states or receiving federal funding.
   

3.1 Formation and Membership

• Include HHS, DOJ, Department of Education, DHS, Department of State, and other relevant agencies.
   

3.2 Responsibilities

• Develop enforceable national reporting standards and guidelines.
• Facilitate interstate and cross-border investigations to prevent jurisdictional gaps.
• Collaborate with the Department of State to monitor and enforce protections for U.S. minors abroad.
• Produce annual reports to Congress detailing emerging trends, enforcement outcomes, and recommendations for policy improvements.
   

4.1 Interstate Agreements

• Implement binding agreements among states to ensure timely and uniform responses to reports of abuse.
   

4.2 International Oversight

• Ensure facilities serving U.S. minors internationally are held to equivalent standards.
• Use diplomatic channels and international legal frameworks to enforce accountability and safeguard children.
   

5.1 Public Education

• Launch campaigns to educate families on risks associated with residential care programs.
• Provide tools to assess facility safety, transparency, and legitimacy.
• Promote the National Reporting Hotline and Database as accessible, protective resources.
   

6.1 Evidence-Based Oversight

• Use database analytics to identify systemic abuse patterns and compliance trends.
• Develop recommendations for targeted interventions, regulatory reforms, and preventive measures.
   

6.2 Annual Congressional Reporting

• Provide Congress with comprehensive annual reports on enforcement progress, unresolved challenges, and actionable reforms.
• Ensure policy decisions are informed by data and survivor experiences.