CONTACT: Julia Endicott
978-877-3871
jendicott@drme.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2024
Disability Rights Maine Maintains Opposition to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities in Maine
Augusta – Today, the State of Maine released a request for application for the Development of a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) for children. DRM staunchly opposes any efforts to introduce a PRTF in Maine.
In 2019, DRM staff visited Maine children in out-of-state placements at PRTFs in Arkansas. At the time, DRM found that children were not receiving the critical treatment that these facilities are purported to provide. Rather, children received one hour per week of individualized therapy with their clinicians and were largely confined to their cinderblock units with little to no structured programming.
This summer, the U.S. Senate completed a two-year investigation into abuses that take place at PRTFs in Arkansas and other states. The committee found, in brief, that:
“Children at RTFs suffer harms such as the risk of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of staff and peers, improperly executed and overused restraint and seclusion, inadequate treatment and supervision, and non-homelike environments. These harms amount to acute safety concerns and have long-term effects, including suffering, trauma and even death. Taken together, the Committee finds that these harms are endemic to the RTF operating model.”
By issuing this RFA, Maine is seeking to introduce a failed model of treatment, increasing the risk of further harm to Maine’s children.
“In light of the historic agreement reached with the DOJ last week, which is based on the assumption that all children can have their needs met in their homes and communities if provided appropriate behavioral health services, it makes no sense for Maine to spend time and resources building new institutional beds for children. Maine should instead focus on meeting its obligations under the agreement, which can only be done through developing and delivering a system of community-based services,” said Atlee Reilly, Managing Attorney.
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Disability Rights Maine is Maine’s Protection & Advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance justice and equality by enforcing rights and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities in Maine.