An Associated Press investigation says adopted kids across the U.S. are being steered into for-profit residential programs that promise healing but instead leave many young people traumatized, punished and, in some cases, dead. Survivors described being physically restrained, subjected to demeaning discipline, and having their contact with families tightly controlled. State records and lawsuits point to repeated safety failures, raising urgent questions about how these businesses are marketed to desperate parents and how the industry is regulated.
According to the Associated Press, reporters interviewed dozens of former residents, families, ex-employees, public officials, attorneys and experts, and reviewed hundreds of government and business records. They identified at least 80 private facilities that explicitly advertise treatment for adoption-related issues, with some charging as much as $20,000 a month. The AP also reported that adoptees, who make up roughly 2% of American children, are a disproportionate share of residents at many of these centers, where operators often market a controversial diagnosis called reactive attachment disorder as a primary treatment focus.
Federal Probe Blasts Youth Facilities as ‘Warehouses of Neglect’
A two-year review by the Senate Finance Committee described youth residential treatment facilities as “warehouses of neglect,” concluding that chronic understaffing, weak oversight, and heavy reliance on mixed public funding streams put children at risk. The Senate Finance Committee report recommends tighter reporting rules, clearer standards, and more investment in community-based alternatives so kids are not shipped off to far-flung institutions as a default.
Individual Programs, Individual Tragedies
The AP’s investigation details specific cases that echo the committee’s broader findings. In one example, Associated Press reporting says 17-year-old Biruk Silvers was found dead at Discovery Ranch in Utah on November 5, 2024. State officials cited the program for safety lapses, fined it about $10,300 and temporarily suspended new admissions while the inquiry moved forward.
North Carolina Wilderness Camp Shut Down After Boy’s Death
In North Carolina, state inspection reports and local coverage show that Trails Carolina lost its license after a 12-year-old camper died and regulators documented multiple deficiencies, including failures to protect clients and to properly report incidents. Carolina Public Press and state documents detail the license revocation and the violations cited by the agency.
Why ‘RAD’ Often Does Not Fit Teen Patients
Medical references say reactive attachment disorder is, by definition, an early-childhood condition that begins before age five, and is uncommon outside settings of profound early neglect or institutional care. MedlinePlus and clinical guides caution that pinning a RAD label on older children and teenagers is often inappropriate and can distract from more accurate diagnoses and supports. In plain terms, many teens in these facilities are being treated for a disorder that usually does not apply to them.
Follow the Money: Thin Staffing, High Bills, Big Incentives
Investigators say the business model matters. Lean staffing, long lengths of stay and a patchwork of public funding can create strong incentives to prioritize revenue over care, a dynamic highlighted in the Senate Finance Committee findings. National legal and advocacy groups estimate that youth placements in congregate care number in the hundreds of thousands each year. The American Bar Association and allied advocates have cited estimates in the 120,000 to 200,000 range while pushing for federal reforms. At the prices some of these centers charge, that adds up to a very lucrative pipeline.
Legal Fallout and a Push for New Rules
Families have filed civil lawsuits, and several states have suspended admissions or revoked licenses at individual programs while investigations continue. Lawmakers from both parties have introduced bills aimed at boosting transparency and setting minimum standards for youth residential care. Sponsors have promoted the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act as one tool to improve reporting and oversight, according to a congressional press release from backers that includes Sen. Jeff Merkley and others. Sen. Merkley’s office says the legislation is designed to close gaps that let abusive or neglectful practices continue across state lines.
Experts say adoptive families considering residential placement should demand inspection and licensing records, staffing ratios, and independent clinical evaluations before signing any contract, and should explore community-based options first. If a young person is in immediate danger or talking about self-harm, call the U.S. suicide and crisis lifeline at 988 or contact your state child-welfare agency.
