BOSTON – The office of Governor Maura Healey and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), a division of the Executive Office of Education, announce the first update of regulations governing residential programs for children since 1995.
Residential programs provide care and housing for children up to age 18, or 22 for certain children living with disabilities, in a group care setting outside of their family home. Many in these programs have complex behavioral health and or social-emotional needs or are otherwise in need of additional complex support.
The department says the changes made include staff professional development requirements in the areas of:
- Trauma-informed and responsive care;
- Working with LGBTQ+ populations;
- Sexual abuse and grooming;
- Cultural responsiveness;
- Missing or absent children; and
- Use of surveillance cameras
The new requirements also bring ECC regulations into compliance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s regulations it updated in June. Those changes affected seclusion practices and require more comprehensive treatment plans that consider a child’s long-term goals, trauma history, culture or religion, LGBTQ+ identity, and behavior needs.
The new requirements also create requirements for residential programs to share more information with their boards related to EEC licensing reviews and investigations to improve accountability and transparency.
“Residential programs provide important care and support for children and families with some of the most complex needs. These updates will promote more inclusive and safe environments for all children and boost this critical workforce,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I encourage parents, community members and programs to submit public comment and share their feedback.”
The ECC is currently accepting public comments through Jan. 12 at 5 PM.
Sharing comments live takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 3 PM to 4:30. Those who wish to attend must RSVP.
ECC also accepts comments via this form or by mail. More information is available here.
