Senate bill aims to expose abuse at treatment centers for kids

A proposal by Sen. Ron Wyden seeks to close oversight loopholes for facilities housing foster youth and children with mental health needs.

New legislation set to be introduced Thursday would ramp up oversight of residential treatment facilities that a Senate investigation accused of putting profits above the safety of foster youths and children with mental health issues.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., follows a broader national reckoning over allegations of abuse at facilities housing some of the most vulnerable children in society, which have been highlighted in recent years through congressional hearings, scores of lawsuits and investigative reporting.

“Young Americans who are struggling with their mental health or who are in foster care deserve far better than what they’re getting right now,” Wyden told NBC News in a statement, adding that the bill is intended to “give watchdogs the tools to spot and stop abuse quickly.”

The residential treatment facilities targeted by the legislation care for children with behavioral and mental health disorders, house foster youths and treat juveniles ordered into placement by judges. Many are operated by private companies but paid through Medicaid, by school districts and by private insurance, and they are largely inspected and licensed by state agencies.

Under the proposal, the Department of Health and Human Services would set up a national public dashboard to include how often children have been restrained or thrown in seclusion at the treatment centers, the facilities’ accreditation and licensure statuses, the rates they charge, their staffing levels and credentials, and results of recent inspections, among other data points.