Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

What it does

This act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and make recommendations about various aspects of youth residential programs.

Specifically, the National Academies must identify the nature, prevalence, severity, and scope of child abuse, neglect, and deaths in youth residential programs.

The National Academies must make recommendations to improve coordination and the implementation of best practices of regarding the health, safety, care, and treatment of youth in youth residential programs. The National Academies also must make recommendations about education and training resources for personnel in health care, law enforcement, the judiciary, social work, and child protection.

In carrying out these requirements, the National Academies must consult with various experts in the field, including local, state, and federal agencies.

The National Academies must submit the report not later than three years after enactment of this bill and biennially thereafter for a period of 10 years.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Dec 23, 2024 (Public Law). CRS summarizes bills impartially; it does not take positions.