NATSAP
Prescott, AZ

NATSAP On Natl. Child
Abuse Prevention Month

The National Association of Schools and Programs issued the following statement today:

"During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we reaffirm our commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect of children and adolescents in the care of residential treatment providers. We believe it's critically important that residential treatment settings are safe and that facilities and programs have appropriate oversight and enforcement."

"We also believe that professionals involved in the education and care of children and youth in residential treatment settings should have the necessary academic background, skills, and experience to meet the specific needs of the population being served and that families and their children should have active input into the services and programming provided in residential treatment settings. We support legislative efforts to provide strong, well-informed, state licensing requirements and the necessary local oversight to ensure compliance, while allowing providers of education and care to offer these services in the most clinically effective and cost-efficient manner."

"The need for effective treatment options in both public and private settings will continue to grow as our adolescent population increases and as a percentage of those adolescents fail to mature emotionally so as to become productive young adults. Parents must reserve the option of being able to choose the most appropriate care for their children. At the same time, we advocate that parents select treatment options that are appropriately regulated to ensure the safety of children."

About The NATSAP
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) was created in January of 1999 to serve as a national resource for programs and professionals assisting young people beleaguered by emotional and behavioral difficulties. The Association is governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors comprised of representatives from the NATSAP membership. For more information visit www.natsap.org.