www.survivorsbreakingsilence.com features hundreds of survivor testimonies that show how prevalent abuse and maltreatment is in residential care facilities across the U.S. Read Paris Hilton's full story here and share this website with your community to help raise awareness and hold these programs accountable. 

In addition, California Department of Social Services announced *this week* that they are decertifying all out-of-state facilities, effectively ending the practice of sending foster children and teens adjudicated for crimes out of California. Hundreds of California youth will return back to the state in January 2021! It is important to note that despite California welfare officials having investigated hundreds of alleged violations or deficiencies at these facilities in recent years, they continued to certify these programs anyways. It wasn’t until, in part, the death of 16 year old Cornelius Fredericks at Lakeside this summer that they finally decided to bring youth home. This is a BIG WIN for our movement and we hope additional agencies within California, such as the State Board of Education, conduct robust investigations into the facilities they have approved. Read the incredible SF Chronicle article that details the history of California & Sequel Facilities here.