CAFETY and Advice for Families Placing Children into Residential Treatment Centers

We have added a new link to our list on the home page. CAFETY stands for Community Alliance For The Ethical Treatment of Youth . They address issues in Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs). They currently have chapters in New York, Texas and California.

CAFETY “is a member-driven, peer-support, and advocacy organization that promotes and protects the human rights of youth who are at risk or have been confined in residential programs”

“Our ‘Care, NOT Coercion’ Campaign
We believe the state has an important role in ensuring that youth and those with disabilities receive non-coercive care and are protected from treatment that undermines their human dignity. CAFETY’s Care, NOT Coercion Campaign works to increase awareness of such problem programs and states that allow such practices as a result of inadequate regulatory policy or ineffective monitored. Some facilities escape regulation entirely and are often known as behavior modification programs, character building schools, wilderness programs, gay re-education camps, boot camps, or therapeutic boarding schools.”

Tips for Parents Deciding on Placement

The website provides a brief and expanded question and checklist for families considering placement. The pdfs can be found here and here .

Points of Advocacy

CAFETY conducted a survey of participants in RTCs in July 2010. They presented their Points of Advocacy report in July 2011. The 32-page pdf can be viewed here. This is a must-read for anyone considering placing their child into an RTC.

Problems Identified in Previous Survey and Congressional Hearings

Statistics from a 2006 survey and subsequent Congressional Hearings can be found here.

REFORM Puzzle Piece