SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Starting January 1, state-licensed residential treatment centers for children and youth in California will face new regulations aimed at increasing transparency and safeguarding the well-being of their residents, especially regarding the use of restraints and seclusion rooms. These facilities, which cater to individuals up to age 21, will be held to more stringent reporting standards whenever such measures are employed.
In details provided by the new law, each time a child is restrained or secluded, the facility must generate a thorough report. This report will be distributed to the affected youth, their parent or guardian, and the California Department of Social Services. Essential elements of the report include a narrative of the incident, identification of involved staff members, the reasoning behind their actions, the duration of the incident, and other pertinent details.
Within seven days of the incident, these reports must also be submitted to the California Department of Social Services. The agency is tasked with reviewing these incidents to identify any health and safety violations and is mandated to investigate if necessary.
Further enhancing the scrutiny, starting from January 1, 2026, the department is required to make data about these incidents accessible to the public via their website. This initiative aims to equip parents or guardians with vital information to make informed decisions before sending their children to these facilities.
High-profile advocacy played a significant role in the passage of this legislation. Paris Hilton, a media personality known for her hotel heiress background, has been a vocal opponent of the so-called “troubled teen industry.” Her efforts were crucial as she championed this bipartisan measure through the legislative process, driven by her own experiences of abuse in similar facilities across California and other states.
In August, following the law’s passage, Hilton lauded the effort, stating that such facilities had often operated with insufficient oversight, putting vulnerable youth at risk. She expressed hope that the new legislation would set a precedent for transparency and accountability in youth residential treatment facilities across the state.
The push for these reforms builds on previous legislative actions in California. In 2021, the state barred the practice of sending troubled youth, including those in foster care, to out-of-state for-profit treatment centers following widespread reports of abuse. Instead, these youths may now be placed in short-term therapeutic settings licensed by the state, providing a safer alternative closer to home. Moreover, in the subsequent year, California legislated funding for crisis residential treatment facilities specifically for children on Medi-Cal, thereby broadening support for at-risk youth.
These steps underscore California’s ongoing commitment to reforming child and youth care facilities, ensuring they serve as safe places for rehabilitation and growth, not merely punitive environments.
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